Israelis have gone to the polls to decide whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will remain in power. On November 3, midterm elections in the United States will take place and likely impact President Donald Trump’s final years in office. Many Iranians are watching both elections closely, knowing that the way Israelis and Americans vote could have serious consequences for their future.
Since Israel and the US launched an unprovoked war on Iran on February 28, Iranians have experienced bombings, a blockade and sanctions. But despite a sharp decrease in US and Israeli attacks since a memorandum of understanding was reached between Washington and Tehran in June, the threat of war has re-emerged. Many political commentators believe that the US and Israel could restart the war after the elections, and Iranians are anticipating further strikes.
But I think there will be more fighting whether Netanyahu wins or Eisenkot or someone else,” 37-year-old Tehran resident Sajad told Al Jazeera, asking to remain anonymous due to security reasons. He believes that the rhetoric of Israeli officials signals that their ambition in the war is still for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic, which has controlled Iran since a 1979 revolution. This has gained some support from Iranians inside and outside the country, who are opposed to the government.
But cyber intelligence operations by both Israel and Iran make it difficult to accurately gauge online reactions to the prospect of Netanyahu winning another election. Iranian authorities have described pro-Israeli Iranians as “homeland sellers” and continue to severely punish any perceived cooperation with Israel based on national security charges. They also fully blame the US and Israel for Iran’s nationwide protests in January, during which thousands of civilians are believed to have been killed.
The United Nations says Iranian security forces committed crimes against humanity while cracking down on the protests. Shayan, a 32-year-old Tehran resident, said he believes that any Iranians who might have hoped for the overthrow of the government at the start of the war are disillusioned after witnessing US and Israeli conduct since then, with thousands of civilians killed and the US blockade and sanctions hitting most people’s incomes. He has also repeatedly threatened to launch more major strikes against Iran’s power plants, bridges and other civilian infrastructure if hostilities resume.
US media report that the country’s military is prepared to attack over the coming days if an order is given. The other option Trump has threatened is prolonging a naval blockade of Iran’s southern ports in place since July, which has stopped the country’s oil exports and significantly disrupted trade. Together with some of the most stringent sanctions imposed against any country, the US measures have made Iranians poorer and more isolated from the international community.
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