Down the lane of history Western leaders have shown paucity, at times, rather absence of any moral standards while dealing with Islam or Islamic regimes. They usually claimed to uphold the standard of justice and fair play, however, in most cases whenever any Islamic regime was involved their sense of appropriation floundered.

At present, Iran must accede to all unjust demands made by the West, is the rule. Exception to the rule is Iran ’s adamant refusal, unlike many other third world countries, to submit to West’s illogical and illegal demands. Many a writer and policy maker in the West blame Iran for being on a collision course with the US and Israel because the prism of Western propaganda and white lies has distorted the truth on Iran .

After remaining apologetic and defensive for many years on its  nuclear  programme, Iran , on the other hand, is exerting and showing muscles but also guarded eagerness to take the issue to its logical conclusion. It simply wants to bare the truth behind West’s illogical attitude towards the Islamic regime. Iran believes that West’s attitude towards Iran under Waliat-e Faqih will continue to be so even after the nuclear issue has been resolved. It is not the nuclear issue; it is the regime that’s at stake.

The pattern is not unlike it was before West’s attack on Iraq when lies after lies were hurled on Iraq to create an atmosphere for aggression; regime change was never mentioned.

However, unlike Iraq , five variables make it difficult, rather very thorny,  for the West under the US leadership to affect the regime change in Iran .

Firstly, despite all negative propaganda, in the Western media, the current government of Ahmedi Nijad has substantial support of people in Iran . Sporadic anti government processions occasionally turning into bloody campaign can be a great fodder for anti regime propaganda machines abroad, they are rarely condoned as legitimate acts on part of opposition at home.

Secondly, the system of governance, Waliat-e Faqih, which is a novel
experience in any Islamic country, is a pioneering fixture of Islamic polity. After thirty years of gruelling challenges, it has gained legitimacy and acceptance among the dominate majority of Iranian populace.

Even the opposition, which is so injudiciously propped up in the West, accepts this system and can’t dare challenge the veracity and integrity of the leader. Therefore, as long as Waliat-e Faqih is popular among the people, there as well is no threat to Mr. Ahmedi Nijad who has full backing of Imam Syed Khamenei.
 
Thirdly, it is the unique position of Imam Khamenei. Duality of his  position as political as well as religious leader of Shia Muslims all across  the globe makes him one of the most powerful men in the present day  world. His political standing and credentials due to his personal honesty, piety and integrity stand him in good stead. His position as political leader of Iran is stable across the board.

Religiously, his position as grand Ayatollah earns him devotion and respect from tens of millions of people at home and abroad in all the nations of the world. Iran under Imam Khamenei presents itself as the most enviable face of Islam.

There are millions of Muslims around the globe in all continents who fully support the Islamic dispensation in Iran . American anti regime policies are taken as anti-Iran and the US insistence on steering the course alienates the US further and antagonises a substantial chunk of informed global population.

Fourthly, the US is handicapped by factors beyond its control. Due to certain variables its all past efforts for regime change since 1979 have proved futile. Anti American public opinion is so strong in Iran that avowed US support for any group in Iran proves a poisoned chalice for it. It is quite convenient for every regime in Iran to deflect people’s anger on America and other hegemonic powers in the West.

Government’s own failures have always been deflected and generally, quite acceptably as well: external powers’ policies on Iran are mainly blamed for Iran ’s economic constraints.

Not unjustly so. What a country, even if it is rich in oil wealth, under excruciating sanctions can do? Iran ’s trade and commerce has fallen to all time low. Talks of Israeli and American aerial strikes have reduced foreign investment to zero. New businesses are not coming up; the old ones are battling their life for survival; currency is crashing and it is taking government’s huge resources to keep afloat.

Future projections, if the same Western antagonism continues, are hardly heartening. Despite this gloomy picture there is no threat to the regime. People are enlightened enough to point the finger of blame correctly. People’s resilience, rather, is regimes point of strength.

Fifthly, since the US intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq , Iran has gone from strength to strength by default. With the threat of inimical regimes  on its flanks gone Iran has emerged as more powerful an entity in the  region than it was in the presence of Taliban in Afghanistan and Saddam  in Iraq.

Conversely, at regional level, the US and the West’s strategic win in both countries is placed at the mercy of Iran . On its part Iran ’s current regime, which both the West as well the US wants to change, is supporting every effort to bring peace and stability to these countries. Iran is playing by rules and does not want to hit below the belt.

This, however, is not being recognised in the West. It is taken as weakness on part of Iran and a success for West’s coercive policies on Iran . Iran passes it over for a better future as stable region benefits Iran more than any other prospect. Despite all debilitating and destabilising uproar in and around Iran , the country’s core structure of governance remains intact. West’s adamant refusal to learn lessons from its past mistakes in handling Iran is not helping any party a bit. The West’s persistent antagonism against Iran is shown through the magnitude and scale of coverage it gives to all anti regime rioting in Iran.

The Western intelligentsia, befogged by its hate for an Islamic dispensation as well as a regime that exerts its independence, pins its hopes of regime change on these small time rioters on the streets of Tehran; bias certainly creates make-beliefs and prevents people from making informed decisions. It requires an internal dialogue on part of the West to untie its own psychological knots on Iran and abandon its ‘Hobson’s choice.’