Within the days after the U.S. and Israel’s opening salvo of airstrikes killed Iranian Supreme Chief Ali Khamenei on Feb. 28, movies unfold throughout social media of individuals celebrating inside Iran. Some danced within the streets. Others handed out sweets, a conventional signal of celebration.
On the identical time, authorities issued warnings in opposition to the formation of a “fifth column” contained in the nation. Officers urged residents to report suspicious exercise, alleged collaborators and anybody helping international operations. State media repeated the message, warning that “enemies” may attempt to exploit the second of conflict and management transition to destabilize the nation from inside.
The priority just isn’t unfounded. U.S. media reviews—and statements from President Donald Trump—have urged that Washington might search to leverage opposition teams, together with armed Kurdish factions in Iran and Iraq, as a part of its technique to overthrow or at the very least destabilize the regime.
