The assassination of their leader Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallahof Israel has caused diverse reactions in Iran. Although the Iranian regime has declared five days of national mourning for the loss of a crucial ally, many ordinary Iranians, as the BBC reports, are celebrating his death.
For decades, Hezbollah has been a key actor in its foreign policy Iranwhich many believe led to international isolation and economic sanctions. Iranians, facing an acute economic crisis, have expressed discontent with the regime’s funding of Hezbollah, while their own needs remain unmet.
Nasrallah’s support for the Iranian government during internal crackdowns, including his comments about the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody, further fueled resentment. Many Iranians see Hezbollah as complicit in the repression of protests within Iran, fueling sentiment against the group.
Inside Iran, citizens distribute sweets to celebrate the death of Hassan Nasrallah.
No one hates Hezbollah more than the Iranians. Our country suffered for 45 years while our blood money went to this prosecutor.
This is a great occasion.
— ♛ ✡︎ (@NiohBerg) September 28, 2024
“Neither Gaza nor Lebanon”
According to the BBC, the slogan “Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, I will give my life for Iran” became popular during the protests, symbolizing widespread opposition to the regime’s foreign interventions and Tehran’s support for Hezbollah.
Let us remember that today the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, referring to the assassination of Nasrallah in Beirut, said that “Israel’s crimes will not go unpunished”. However, Iran also vowed revenge following the assassination of Ismail Haniya during an official visit to Tehran. This, however, never happened, an indication that Iran did not want to be the one to steer things towards an all-out war.
For decades, Tehran has supported Hezbollah by sending money, weapons and training its Revolutionary Guard cadres. The Lebanese group is – or at least it was before Israel neutralized almost its entire leadership group – by far Iran’s most powerful proxy and the most heavily armed non-state militia in the world.
Nasrallah’s death united us, Syrians, Lebanese, Iranians and Israelis… we all celebrated together. pic.twitter.com/X1PoB3aKvH
-Asaad Sam Hanna (@AsaadHannaa) September 29, 2024
