Wartime diplomacy part of national defense system
By Mostafa Alaei
Iran’s former ambassador to Venezuela
Israel, driven by ideological supremacy, hegemonic tendencies, and expansionist ambitions, has never been able to tolerate a powerful and influential Iran in the region. The Zionist regime has consistently sought to undermine Iran’s sources of power. Over the years, it has attempted—particularly through soft power mechanisms—to create rifts between the Iranian people and the Islamic Republic. One need only consider the numerous Persian-language media outlets established for this very purpose.
In parallel, Israel has continuously invested in enhancing its offensive and defensive military capabilities, always entertaining the idea of striking Iran. Prior to the outbreak of war with Iran, the Netanyahu regime, based on its own calculations, envisioned an early victory and the rapid fall of the Islamic Republic on two fronts: first, through the targeted assassination of senior military commanders, which it believed would cripple Iran’s defense system and pave the way for the collapse of national defense; and second, by inciting unrest among the population, expecting mass uprisings to aid in the social downfall of the state. A clear example of this miscalculation was Netanyahu’s early speech addressed to the Iranian people—a message that was widely ridiculed in Iran.
Contrary to these assumptions, the Iranian public, spotting the grave threat to national sovereignty, thwarted the regime’s schemes. Some citizens expressed their resistance through massive displays of support in public events and rallies, while others rejected the deception of Israel’s psychological warfare. United under one national flag, the Iranian people foiled the Zionist regime’s plots. Such societal mobilization should not be underestimated.
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