Outside Iran
Outside Iran, at Iranian demonstrations against the Khamenei regime, Jewish and Israeli protesters often hoist and wave the Israeli flag alongside the imperial Iranian flag. Many Iranians in such protests thank Israel, the IDF, and Benjamin Netanyahu for killing Seyyed Ali Khamenei.[1] After one of the most seismic events in modern Iranian history, religious Jews and Iranians were filmed celebrating together in the middle of London’s predominantly Jewish neighborhood of Golders Green.[2]
What about inside Iran? How do people there genuinely view Israel? No one can carry out such a poll inside Iran because it would be dangerous for the respondents. Yet, based on the behavior of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) intelligence, there is support for Israel. For example, on October 2nd, 2024, the Guard’s spy agency warned Iranians that any show of support for Israel on social media is a crime. It also asked Iranian citizens to report any sighting of such activities.[1] This warning was issued after a string of defeats which the Khamenei regime suffered at the hands of Israel. Chief among them was the assassination of Hamas terror chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31st of that year. The successful killing of Hezbollah terror chief Hassan Nasrallah on September 27th, 2024, followed this. Obviously, many Iranians were delighted with Israel’s actions. So much so that 10 days later, the IRGC had to threaten Iranians to stop supporting Israel online.
The divisions in Iran between regime supporters and those who oppose its policies are stark. The regime is more unpopular than ever. This manifested in several ways recently. For example, during the last presidential elections, in June 2025. According to regime-produced data, 40% of the population turned out to vote. [1] This is the lowest official voting rate in Iran’s post 1979 revolution history. In reality, it is estimated that the real number is closer to half. Additionally, in a survey carried out inside Iran in September 2024, polls showed that 92% of the population expressed that they are “unsatisfied with the general situation.”[2] This is a roundabout way of saying they are unhappy with the regime. This is something that the regime is aware of, and which worries it greatly.
There are numerous reasons a notable part of Iranians in the diaspora, and inside Iran want good relations with Israel and support its military actions in the region and even inside Iran.
The primary reason is that they see the post-revolution regime in Iran as the biggest blight in Iran’s modern history that has befallen their country and compatriots.
They see the regime’s foreign policy entering Iran in endless wars against Israel, US, and other regional countries. For most of the past 47 years, their country has either been under sanctions, in direct wars or proxy wars.
Domestically, the regime has ruined Iran’s infrastructure due to mismanagement and corruption. The average Iranian has become poorer and more destitute after the revolution. Meanwhile, Iran’s graveyards have expanded with the bodies of tens of thousands of Iran’s youngest and brightest who the regime has slaughtered since 1979. Simultaneously, the people of Iran see the State of Israel as the most militant and determined enemy of the regime that has oppressed them for so long, and so many of them want to see it overthrown. They support Israel because it attacks and humiliates the Khamenei regime time and time again. Unlike Saddam’s regime, Israel does not have any territorial ambitions over Iran. The two countries don’t even share a border.
The Jewish people and the people of Iran have a 2500-year historic bond. Iranian Jews and their love and historic contribution to Iran and Israel is its most distinct manifestation. What strengthens Israel and many Iranians today is common interest: to see the current regime in Iran overthrown.
Israelis realized long ago that they will not have freedom from terrorism as long as the people of Iran do not have freedom from the Khamenei regime. This is why Israeli governments, across the political spectrum, have consistently expressed support for the Iranian people’s aspirations for freedom. This also explains why 72% of Israelis support the current war against the Khamenei regime.[1] Wanting to overthrow this regime is not just a Netanyahu wish. The Israeli Left shares this view. Because the Khamenei regime’s financial, military, and political support for hundreds of terror attacks, perpetrated by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, played a big part in derailing the Oslo peace process.
The State of Israel
The State of Israel made the right decision to support the, still exiled, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as the interim transitional leader of the people of Iran. He is the best person to lead post-revolution Iran until elections. Among all the leaders of the opposition, he is the most popular. This manifested itself on January 7th, 2025. He called on the people of Iran to come to the streets at 8PM. Millions across Iran heeded his call and turned up in one of Iran’s most popular and geographically diverse protests since the 1979 revolution. They repeated it on the night of January 8. This caught the regime off guard. It subsequently panicked and gave “shoot-to-kill” orders, resulting in the biggest massacre of civilians in Iran’s modern history.
Many Iranians do not see shame in a foreign government, namely Israel, supporting their uprising and Reza Pahlavi. Why should they? The Khamenei regime brought its hired guns and assassins from its Shia proxy groups in Afghanistan and Iraq to maim and murder approximately 30,000 last January.[1] They are foreigners. So is Hezbollah, which has always stood with the Khamenei regime and its violent crackdown during uprisings by the people of Iran.
The Khamenei Regime
The Khamenei regime brings its Shia assassins to the fight; the people of Iran bring the Israeli military. After losing thousands of Israelis and Jews to Khamenei regime terror operations, including the October 7 massacre, Israel will see no problem in standing with the people of Iran. In fact, it sees it as its duty and in line with its national interest to do so. This will continue to strengthen relations between Israel and Iranian society, in Iran and abroad.
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