What Do Iranians Want?

This is an earnest question. Activism without specificity carries a multitude of risks. Before speaking or acting, I want to understand what Iranian protestors are asking outsiders to do.

I am hoping for replies from those who will source their answers with links, accounts to follow, and more, for further education—especially from Iranians.

What do Iranians want?

Are they united in what they want? (No nation’s citizens should be presumed a united front, nor a monolith.)

What do the majority of the population want? What have 6,000 to 36,500 of them recently died for in the past month alone? (The true number may be higher, and difficult to verify, because Iran’s government instituted a near-total internet blackout for more than two pivotal weeks.)

I have alternated between horror, grief, and anger, but my emotions are not important. What is important is understanding what might be done moving forward.

I’m reading that Iranians want freedom from their current government. What does that look like? What exactly are they asking for, from outsiders, as their regime has responded with slaughter?

Are Iranian citizens still asking for U.S. military action, and if so, where? How, without causing civilian casualties? Are they asking for the international community’s help lifting devastating U.S. sanctions? Are Iranian activists such as attorney Elica Le Bon merely asking for a show of solidarity? All of the above? Something else entirely?

I understand Iranian anger and despair over the Western media’s minimal coverage of the atrocities occurring. What I do not understand from their pleas for awareness is this: what is the goal, and how can people outside Iran—particularly Americans—help them achieve their goal without causing further damage?

Answers to conflicts like this are rarely simple, but a cry for awareness alone feels incomplete and potentially reckless to me.

From what I’ve learned, U.S. interference with Iranian politics in 1953 eventually led to widespread and understandable hostility toward America, including the hostage-holding of Americans from 1979-81 during the Iranian Revolution. But I don’t know if U.S. sources on this matter can be trusted, nor British, nor Israeli, nor Iran’s itself—clearly the current regime prohibits free press and free speech. That’s why I am also linking this very rudimentary timeline of U.S.-Iran relations from Al Jazeera.

Mistrust in media is one significant reason many are silent about Iran.

I am seeing understandable hurt and anger expressed by Iranians and their allies, urging more people to speak up, to pay attention. It is not that I am unwilling. But what would I be speaking up for? Mere public sympathy? Or action? If action, what exact action? What is the ask here?

I reserve my right to remain silent, as per my last piece. I also reserve my right to learn, to ask questions that may be ignorant, but are asked in pursuit of understanding rather than performance.

I don’t want to speak out of ignorance. My country has interfered with other countries when we were not wanted, imposing our values, destabilizing regions, and dragging our allies into fatal messes with us. I’ve said before that the U.S. seems like the world’s bully cop—intervening where we’re not welcome, and causing long-lasting strife because of short-sighted bluster, might, and ignorance, regardless of any well-meant intentions.

I do not wish to be an American contributing to that.

I think I speak for many when I say this: It’s not that we don’t care about Iranians… It’s that we barely understand what is going on or what the solution is that Iranian protestors would like us to advocate for on their behalf.

Is it bombs? Is it humanitarian aid? Is it sustained global pressure via media and social platforms for their regime to voluntarily, or involuntarily, surrender? Do they have a broadly supported vision for what to replace the current government with, or does the toppling of this regime leave room for another that’s even worse?

So I am asking bluntly.

To Iranians, and those amplifying Iranian voices: what does meaningful help from outsiders look like to you? What do you think Americans should advocate for, and what should we explicitly not support?

May no one dare suggest we pray. Faith proves more effective at justifying violence than stopping it.

If you have answers, sources, or lived experience, I want to listen.

UPDATE: A commenter below directed me to the Instagram account of @raeekayassaie, a British-Iranian whose post “5 Ways to Support the People’s Revolution of Iran” shares exactly the kind of actionable asks I’m looking for.

NOTE: I am unable to share this on Instagram with the depth it deserves because when I talk about political violence in feed posts, the algorithm restricts me. Restrictions, shadowbans, and outright removal increasingly affect many people, especially women, who deviate from their algorithmic lane. I will explore this subject as promised in an upcoming blog post. For now, this topic takes precedence.

If you are also struggling to understand what is happening in Iran and how Iranian protestors would like outsiders to help, please share this. My hope is that we will get actionable answers from Iranians themselves. Thank you.

I’m Alice Greczyn, a writer, among other things. This post is free. If it stirred your thoughts, I hope you’ll consider sharing it or becoming a subscriber. Thank you.