"Disturbing security"

Iran: punishments for critics of the attack on Israel

Anyone who criticizes last weekend's attack on Israel must expect to be punished in Iran. On Tuesday, it was announced that journalist Abbas Abdi would have to stand trial for "disturbing the psychological security of the country". 

Abdi had advised the government to refrain from exaggerated and useless attacks and instead change its Middle East policy. This was followed by a criminal complaint. Anyone who criticized the attacks on social media, for example, was also threatened with punishment.

Abdi reacted calmly. "It's just a shame, because this kind of action undermines journalism (...). This is a clear example of self-destruction (in the country)," he wrote on the X platform. He wanted to explain and vehemently defend his position in the court case.

Carpet dealer: "Useless attacks"
Many people in the capital Tehran are also critical of the large-scale attacks on Israel with hundreds of drones and missiles. "The millions spent on these useless attacks could have been much better invested in the country itself," said a carpet dealer in the bazaar. Iran has been in an economic crisis for years. This could be further exacerbated by an Israeli counter-attack.

The country's political leadership speaks of "legitimate defense" (see video above). The background to the military conflict was the alleged Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy compound in Syria's capital Damascus. Two generals and five officers of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) were killed in the attack on April 1.