Why Iran’s Regime Embodies Modern Evil

The term “evil regime” may sound like hyperbole in a world accustomed to diplomatic euphemisms, but when it comes to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the phrase is often used not for dramatic effect — but because it fits. The regime’s systematic repression at home, export of terror abroad, antisemitic ideology, and military support for genocidal regimes have turned Iran into a global threat cloaked in religious rhetoric.

From brutalizing its own people to arming terrorists and helping Russia bomb Ukrainian civilians, Iran has become a central force of modern evil. And at the heart of its ideology is a genocidal obsession with the destruction of Israel.

Brutality at Home: A Nation Held Hostage

Since its establishment in 1979, Iran’s theocratic regime has ruled through fear. Political dissent is crushed, often with bullets or hangings. The 2022 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman detained by the morality police for “improper hijab,” were met with lethal force. Hundreds of Iranians, including teenagers and children, were killed. Thousands were imprisoned or tortured — simply for demanding basic freedoms.

The regime’s “morality police” continue to police women’s clothing and behavior with ferocity. A woman in today’s Iran can still be arrested, beaten, or even killed for showing her hair.

Women as Second-Class Citizens

The status of women in Iran remains severely repressed. Despite being highly educated and active in civil society, women are denied equal rights in inheritance, testimony, child custody, and marriage. Female activists have been jailed or driven into exile. Those who stay risk surveillance, harassment, and imprisonment.

The regime’s obsession with controlling women’s bodies and choices is not merely about religion — it’s a tool of totalitarian control.

Terrorism as Foreign Policy

Iran’s influence extends far beyond its borders, primarily through the funding and arming of violent proxy groups. Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, various Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria, and both Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza — all operate with Tehran’s backing.

These groups target civilians, destabilize governments, and serve as Iran’s long arm in its campaign to remake the Middle East in its image. But in recent years, Iran’s destructive hand has reached far beyond the region.

Their common goal? Destabilize the region and destroy Israel.

The October 7 Hamas massacre, which killed over 1,200 Israelis — including entire families, women, and babies — was carried out by a group long armed and trained by Iran. While the world reeled in horror, Tehran cheered.

Iran’s War on Ukraine: Arming Putin’s Genocide

Iran has supplied Russia with hundreds of Shahed suicide drones — the same drones now used by Putin’s forces to attack Ukrainian cities. These Iranian-made weapons have targeted residential buildings, power plants, hospitals, and schools. Dozens of civilians — including women and children — have died in attacks carried out with Iranian technology.

In doing so, the Islamic Republic has become an accomplice in one of the most brutal wars in modern Europe, enabling a genocidal regime to wage terror against a democratic nation.

Conclusion: A Global Struggle for Freedom

The Islamic Republic of Iran is not simply a Muslim theocracy — it is a totalitarian state that uses religion to justify repression, terror, and expansionism. The Iranian people — especially women and the youth — are often the first victims of this regime. But the consequences of Tehran’s actions are felt across continents.

Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons poses an existential threat to Israel and a destabilizing force for the entire region. Despite the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA), Iran has continued enriching uranium and hiding military dimensions of its program. The threat is not just the weapons themselves, but the ideology behind them — a regime that speaks openly of “wiping Israel off the map” cannot be allowed to acquire a nuclear bomb.