We Know Who the Real Enemy Is—Why Doesn’t the World?

As war unfolds between Israel and the Islamic Republic, headlines scream “Iran attacks” and “Iran strikes back.”

But let me be clear: this is not Iran.

The Islamic Republic is not Iran, it’s not a government, and it certainly does not represent the Iranian people. It is a foreign, Islamist regime that hijacked our nation, to erase our identity, and steal our future 46 years ago—and every time you conflate the two, you help bury the truth.

This regime was never elected. It has never represented Iran. It is not native to our culture, our history, or our values. It is a violent, ideological occupier that murders Iranians daily. Every four hours, one Iranian is executed or killed for refusing to kneel.

Women are raped, tortured, and publicly shamed for daring to show their hair. Children are shot in the streets. Our artists are silenced. Our students disappear.

So when Israel launches precision strikes on IRGC commanders, they are not attacking Iran.

They are targeting the enemy of Iran, the very machinery that vowed to destroy Iranians—people like my father, Jamshid Sharmahd, who was kidnapped, tortured, and killed by this regime.

Or Mojahed Kourkour, executed at dawn just days ago for a crime he didn’t commit—his only “offense” was refusing to bow. They killed him on the birthday of Kian Pirfalak, the nine-year-old boy gunned down by the same forces. Then they blamed Kourkour for it.

And when this regime retaliates, it doesn’t target military sites.

It rains missiles on civilians—in Tel Aviv, in Ashkelon—because terror is its only language.

It is a gut punch every single time world leaders, journalists, and even activists call these butchers “Iran.” You are helping mask jihadist terror in the language of diplomacy.

And worst of all, you are ignoring the millions of Iranians—especially women—who have risked everything to say: not in our name.

This is personal—not just for Iranians, but for Jews too. Our peoples share thousands of years of history. And that history is now being rewritten by a regime that incites genocide, funds terror, and has driven out or silenced what was once the largest Jewish community in the Middle East outside of Israel.

But still—even now—Iranians and Israelis are lighting candles for one another. Praying for one another. Mourning one another’s dead.

We see each other because we know who the real enemy is. 

So let’s ask the real question:

Now that you see Israelis and Iranians praying for each other’s safety, mourning each other’s dead, and fighting a shared enemy—what will you do?

Will you finally sever your ties with these oppressors?

Will you end the charade of nuclear deals and backroom diplomacy?

Will you stop pretending tyranny can be reasoned with?

Or will you once again betray the people of Iran—especially the women, the girls, the brave protestors—by handing their jailers billions, under the guise of peace?

The time for ambiguity is over.