By Nahid Poureisa – Jun 19, 2025
Something is happening in Iran.
People are not only supporting the war, but they are getting closer to the state. The concept of “nation” has undergone a shift. In recent days, I have seen things I never could have imagined.
One of the most powerful images was a viral video: A young woman in Tehran, without hijab, wearing a koufiyeh, singing a deeply patriotic song under Azadi Tower, the symbolic heart of Tehran. This was not just a moment of performative nationalism; it was a statement, a contradiction of the narrative that pits the Iranian people against their state.
Social media, once a battleground of polarizing slogans, has become a platform for national unity. Campaigns are emerging one after another: to sign under the Iranian flag, to denounce Iran International (a channel broadcasting from Tel Aviv), and to criticize its recent interview with Netanyahu.
And it’s not the so-called conservatives or state loyalists pushing this narrative. It’s people from the same class and lifestyle background as the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protesters, those who just 4 years ago were seen chanting for regime change.
On the train, the conversations are no longer about dissent, they’re about the war. Women were there for each other emotionally. One was unsure whether she should leave the capital. I told her, “The Zionists would not dare to attack civilians again.” she replied, “But they already did.”
“Yes,” I said. “They did, during the first two days. But after Iran’s retaliatory operations, they learned that Iran is not only capable, but determined, not just to restore deterrence, but to dismantle the enemy’s power entirely.” I could see confidence return to her face.
Another woman joined in, agreeing with me. “The attacks were mostly done by Mossad agents,” she added. “Now things are more under control.” I nodded.
In the same train, a street vendor walked through the wagon, smiling. “We continue to live,” she said. “There is no other choice. I need to sell.” That was it, that moment helped me piece together the answer to a question that’s been haunting me: Why are people scared and yet still supportive of Iran’s stance?
For years, especially during the peak of “Woman, Life, Freedom,” we witnessed a profound split between the state and the nation in Iran. During the 2022 World Cup, at the height of the protests, many refused to support the national team, claiming it represented the Islamic Republic, not the Iranian people. That moment became a defining line. If you cheered for Iran’s team, you were automatically seen as being against the “revolution” [of Woman, Life, Freedom], a movement that had been hijacked and bankrolled by imperialist agendas.
But now? Why not apply the same logic? Isn’t this just a war between the IRGC and “Israel”? Can’t we say it’s a war between two evils?
No. Not anymore.
Back on the train, I realized how the concrete conditions of everyday life override Western-fueled delusions. The smear campaigns and misinformation wars can’t hold against direct, lived experience. Why? Because people realized something crucial: their loved ones were attacked by “Israel”. This wasn’t a fabricated threat from the Islamic Republic. The enemy of the state is now recognized, viscerally, as the enemy of the people.
That unification is a turning point: the merging of state and nation.
Reality is defeating BBC Persian. Reality is defeating Iran International. Reality is bitter, but it’s powerful. In order to survive, you must fight back, and who has the means to fight back? The Iranian state. Its military.
After the recent Israeli aggression, Netanyahu posted a video calling on the Iranian people to rise up and “finish what he started.” He believed that by killing commanders, he could encourage the public to weaken the state. But this was a strategic miscalculation. He thought he could become more popular with the people by killing them.
No. He can’t. Reality is winning. The Iranian state is winning.
A few days ago, “Israel” struck the building housing Iran’s national TV (IRIB). A female anchor, instead of fleeing, chose to continue her broadcast until the very last moment. For a moment, she became like Yahya Sinwar, an icon of resistance. In that second, she showcased the indomitable spirit of Iran’s resistance. She didn’t leave her seat.
And even as I write this, I hear the terrifying sound of explosions and air defenses overhead. It’s hard to focus, and yet it’s never been easier to stay focused.
We win this war if we commit to repeating the truth, again and again. Sahar Emami, the female anchor, became a symbol of resistance. Her defiance reminded people that the state and its media are not the enemies. The real enemy lies outside our borders, funding terrorists to kill and terrorize us.
The enemy keeps making the same mistake: thinking that by killing us, we’ll become weaker. But we didn’t. Because, as Imam Khomeini once said:
“Kill us, we will become stronger.”
He said that after the 1981 terror attack that killed President Rajaei and much of his cabinet. That attack led to the selection of Ayatollah Khamenei years later. Every time there’s a martyrdom, a strong and resolute leadership rises in its place. The Islamic Republic is masterful at playing the long game. But when terror strikes, that deep patience snaps, and what emerges is a righteous, disciplined rage. A radical moment rooted in both faith and reality. A brotherhood among commanders that turns into the foundation of strategic decision-making.
You killed Hajj Qassem Soleimani? We will make you leave the region.
You killed General Hajizadeh?
Hajizadeh, for so long, restrained his anger; he didn’t let his hatred of child killers dictate policy. But should that threshold be crossed, the result will be devastating for the enemy.
Until now, I’ve only talked about the psychological landscape. But what about the battlefield?
Iran is also winning on the ground. Why? Because Trump has been forced to remove the mask. He now plays a direct role in the war. This is an enormous cost for the US But perhaps in Trump’s logic, it’s a lesser cost than allowing “Israel” to be defeated.
Let the world cheer for Iran. Let TikTok flood with thousands of videos saying just one sentence:
“Iran, do it.”
Trump’s direct involvement is in itself a contradiction of the very function of the Zionist entity. The whole point of “Israel’s” creation by imperialist powers was to “do the dirty work for them”, to kill, destabilize, and control the region on their behalf. But that model is collapsing.
That failure was already clear when “Israel” couldn’t even defeat a small, starved resistance movement like Hamas. So, how can they possibly defeat Iran?
Now the US must step in and pay the high price of yet another West Asia war. When was the last time they won anything in the region? And all of this is happening as American imperialism faces multiple fronts: a trade war with China, a military trap in Ukraine, and now a confrontation with Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
They can’t.
They won’t.
And resistance will emerge victorious.
Nahid Poureisa is an Iranian academic researcher focusing on West Asia and China relations.
