As the recent protests in Iran spark much controversy, some commentators have dismissed the idea that the Islamic regime poses a threat to the West, particularly America, and that the US is opposed to the regime largely due to Israel.

For example, Matthew Ghobrial Cockerill (known as History Speaks on X), tweeted:

“You’ll notice, too, that while the Islamic Republic of Iran is depicted as the greatest source of terrorism in the history of the multiverse, that the IR – being Shiite – has engaged in zero terrorism against the US or Europe in the 21st century. (Or one attack if you count the aforementioned Hezbollah attack as Iran.)”

However, an examination of the facts proves Cockerill to be very misinformed.

“Death to America”: The Chant of the Regime

To begin with, a famous slogan often chanted by jihadists around the world is the cry “Death to America,” and it is also widely used by the Islamic regime. For example, on Nov 2, 2015, 192 members of Iran’s 290-seat parliament said “The martyr-nurturing nation of Iran is not at all prepared to abandon the slogan of ‘Death to America’ under the pretext of a nuclear agreement.”

As the Americans were trying to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran to prevent hostilities, the regime’s parliament was declaring they would continue chanting “Death to America.” Some may argue this is merely rhetoric and not something which the regime aims to achieve, as the then so-called ‘moderate’ President Hassan Rouhani did. Rouhani said Americans should not take this chant personally and that it is only the Iranians (even though the majority of Iranians do not chant the slogan) expressing their frustration at the US’s foreign policy.

However, the regime’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, does not seem to agree, declaring:

“The situation between America and Iran is this: When you chant ‘Death to America!’ it is not just a slogan – it is a policy.”

“It is a policy.” So much for rhetorical expression.

Further, the regime does not simply chant for the US’s death, but also for the exportation of the Islamic revolution globally. The regime’s founder, Ayatollah Khomeini, declared:

“We shall export our revolution to the whole world. Until the cry ‘There is no god but Allah’ resounds over the whole world, there will be struggle.”

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a former president of the regime, once remarked:

“The message of the Revolution is global and is not restricted to a specific place or time. Have no doubt…Allah willing, Islam will conquer what? It will conquer all the mountain tops of the world.”

The regime’s Brigadier General Qolamhossein Qeib-parvar even declared at a local conference commemorating Kazerun martyrs that the only way hostilities between Iran and the EU and US would end would be if the latter converted to Islam.

Regime-Backed Jihad on the US

As further proof that the regime’s words are not empty rhetoric, we may turn to the endless terror attacks it has performed against the US and its troops abroad, contrary to the claim that the regime “…has engaged in zero terrorism against the US or Europe in the 21st century.” Tzvi Kahn, a research fellow and senior editor at the Foundation For Defense of Democracies (FDD), has listed numerous terror attacks involving the Islamic Republic against Americans.

One famous example is the Barrack bombings in Beirut, on Oct 23, 1983, in which Hezbollah, a proxy of the Islamic Republic, murdered 220 American Marines and 21 other American service personnel.

Even worse, there is considerable evidence suggesting the regime materially aided al-Qaeda in conducting the 9/11 attacks against the US. For example, on Dec 22, 2011, US District Judge George B. Daniels ruled in Havlish, et al. v. bin Laden, et al., that Iran and its proxy Hezbollah were liable for damages to be paid to the victims of 9/11. The evidence presented in court included testimony from two former CIA agents, three Iranian defectors, members of the 9/11 Commission and much more.

While the 9/11 Commission report says Iran had no foreknowledge of al-Qaeda’s attacks on the World Trade Centre, the report notes:

“there is strong evidence that Iran facilitated the transit of al Qaeda members into and out of Afghanistan before 9/11, and that some of these were future 9/11 hijackers.”

Overall, Kahn concludes these cases and many more demonstrates:

“…that Tehran continues to pose a threat to U.S. forces in the Middle East, the American homeland, and Americans residing across the globe.”

The Regime’s Apocalyptic Belief in the Mahdi

Finally, it must be noted that the Islamic Republic holds to a fanatic belief, called Mahdism. The regime belongs to strain of Shia Muslims, called Twelvers. According to their beliefs, the true leadership of the Muslim community belongs to the bloodline of Muhammad, which began with his cousin Ali. Twelvers regard Muhammad ibn Hasan, also known as Muhammad al-Mahdi (the Mahdi), to be the twelve and final imam. In 874, it is said the Mahdi went into a state of occultation and is still alive, waiting to return and take over the world to restore Islamic justice.

While one may dismiss this belief as harmless, historian Raymond Ibrahim notes:

“Mahdism poses a serious…threat to international security, primarily because its current articulation in Iran requires its adherents to take “proactive” steps to help usher in the Mahdi — most notably by initiating an “apocalyptic” showdown with the “greater” and “lesser” satans, namely, America and Israel.”

The regime’s leadership takes this belief very seriously. Former president Ahmadinejad had “a highway built between Tehran and the Shi’ite holy city of Qom, approaching the Iraqi city of Samarra – the city in which the Twelfth Imam disappeared and from which he will return. The highway is apparently intended for the Twelfth Imam himself, so that immediately after he does come out of Occultation, he can make his way to Tehran quickly and begin to wage global war against the enemies of the Shi’ites.”

Supreme leader Khamenei explained that the very existence of the Islamic Republic was a sign that the Mahdi would return soon and provide “the biggest opening for the Islamic society.”

However, if the regime believes it should attempt to usher in the Mahdi’s reign, it may take extreme actions to do so, even if those actions harm itself.

As Ibrahim puts it:

“For nations whose leaders and upcoming leaders have been systematically indoctrinated into believing that the greatest good is to usher in a “rightly guided” figure from Islamic legend — no matter the cost, including to that nation itself — the implications are nothing short of apocalyptic.”

Conclusion:

So, all in all, the Islamic regime of Iran:

• Constantly shouts “Death to America,” which according to its Supreme Leader Khamenei is a policy, not just a slogan;
• Has conducted and assisted in multiple terror attacks against Americans, including 9/11 and;
• Has an apocalyptic eschatological view that is the driving factor behind its violence.

With all of this, it is beyond any doubt that the regime does pose a security threat to the West and America.