Iranian Civil Society Unites Against U.S. Threats, Urges Global Peace and Non-Intervention
Tehran, The Gulf Observer: In a powerful and unified response to military threats issued by U.S. President Donald Trump, more than 300 Iranian civil society activists have voiced their unwavering commitment to defend their nation, despite holding differing views and criticisms of the Iranian government.
In a joint statement issued on April 3 and addressed to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, a broad coalition—including university professors, legal experts, journalists, human rights defenders, and independent political activists—warned that any foreign military aggression against Iran would be met with national unity and resistance.
“We have experienced the devastation of war before,” the statement reads, referencing the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, during which Iranian civilians endured chemical attacks supported by foreign powers, notably the German government. The activists stressed that while Iran has not initiated a war in the past century, it has consistently resisted foreign invasion and would do so again if provoked.
The statement comes amid rising regional tensions and follows recent rhetoric from the Trump administration threatening military action against Iran. The activists denounced the U.S. administration’s stance as militaristic and destabilizing, accusing it of undermining international peace and diplomacy.
“While we criticize the government and advocate for reform, we believe Iran’s independence, security, and democracy must be determined by its own people—free from foreign interference,” the statement affirms.
The group also condemned what they described as the hypocrisy of foreign powers, particularly the U.S. and some European governments, in supporting what they labeled the “criminal regime” of Israel, while claiming to promote democracy elsewhere.
They warned that the continued support for Israeli actions in Gaza, paired with aggressive policies toward Iran and other nations, undermines the credibility of international institutions and further endangers global peace.
“We stand united in defense of Iran, its people, and the cause of world peace,” the statement declared, stressing that any attack on Iran should be recognized not just as an assault on a government, but as an attack on the Iranian people.
The activists concluded with a call to action, urging the international community to reject U.S. war rhetoric and condemn ongoing human rights violations in the Middle East. They stressed the urgent need for diplomacy, mutual respect, and a rules-based international order rooted in the U.N. Charter.
This rare show of unity across political and ideological lines in Iran highlights the profound sensitivity of foreign threats and reflects the nation’s historical memory of war and intervention—a sentiment that remains deeply entrenched in its civil society.
