Only together can countries stop Iran's brutality both domestically and internationally, Ariel Cohen, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and Director of Energy, Growth and Security at the International Tax and Investment Center told Report.
The Iranian regime is violating the international law both towards its own people and towards the people of Ukraine by supplying Russia with weapons that are used in its war in Ukraine, he said, noting that the international community should hold a tribunal under the auspices of the UN, or at the international Criminal Court in which people who are involved in the violation of human rights in Iran, starting with the supreme leader, will be held accountable. “There will be sentences in absentia to punish them for these violations.”
There should be much more international solidarity with the people of Iran: there should be demonstrations, rallies, fundraising to help not only the families of those killed or imprisoned, but also to help the movement itself, he said.
“People need to know and the world community needs to make it clear that we support the people of Iran. There should be much more solidarity and I want the Iranian diaspora, including Iranian Azerbaijanis, to be more involved in pressure on the government, media activities, fundraising to support brothers and sisters who are fighting for freedom in Iran,” added Cohen, emphasizing that, unfortunately, the world is now busy with other things: the US elections, the war in Ukraine, others, and is not focusing so much on the events in Iran.
According to him, Iran could be a very rich country, especially if it developed its gas, but the regime did not allow this, so if it changes, the government will work for the benefit of the people of Iran, and not for the benefit of ideology and their own strength.
The current Iranian regime has already faced attempts at uprisings and coups, but they were suppressed. Meanwhile, the question is whether at some point the government officials, including the military, will intervene and say: “Enough, we are not going to kill our people and children, we are here to protect them from poverty, suffering and from regime."
When it comes to weapons supply, he noted that the sale of Iranian weapons to Russia is indeed a violation of international law and a war crime, since they are killing the civilians. The US and West Europe should sanction not only the companies but also the individuals involved in that: CEOs, manufacturing people and others.
“These spare parts should not be sold and countries that are selling them to Iran should also be sanctioned. Only together can we stop Iranian violence both domestically and internationally. The regime behaves cruelly towards its own people and irresponsibly towards the people of Ukraine,” he said.