Writer: Keyumars Samadi
A tribal and family front called the “Resistance,” which has been rebelling since the caretaker government’s rule over Kabul, attempted in 2021 to first gain the support of regional countries, particularly Iran, Tajikistan, and Pakistan. The Resistance Front was able to establish close ties with Iran and receive support.
When the countries of the region realized that the caretaker government in Afghanistan was a reality and that maintaining and supporting relations with other opposition groups without it held no particular benefit for them, they isolated the Resistance Front. Iran is one of the most powerful countries in the region. At the time when Israel launched extensive attacks on Iran, the Resistance Front was recognized as the opposing group to that country. However, the Resistance Front not only did not support Iran, but there were also reports that the Iranian members of this front played a significant role in espionage activities for Israel.
Contrary to what the resistance front expected, Iran did provide them with political and military support. However, when they saw their expectations turn into disappointment, they began attempts to trap themselves in the West’s net. The Resistance Front, which sought support from Israel, the United States, and Western countries, now supports the United States and the West in all cases where Iran suffers immediate or strategic losses.
Some officials and members of the Resistance Front’s political part, such as Ali Meysam Nazari and others, have recently increased their activities in European countries. They are in contact with Western politicians and want to gain support for the illegitimate war thru them. The media and diplomatic activities of these Resistance Front officials are largely presented in accordance with Western values and agendas.
When a region project like the Zangazur Corridor, or the issue of Azerbaijan-Armenia relations, which is supported by the US and leads to the weakening of Iran, is seen by the leaders of the Resistance Front as a strategic opportunity to take a position in favor of the US and the West and show themselves in alignment with Western interests. Ali Meysam Nazari’s tweet on this topic, in which he thanked Trump for the issue, represents the official stance of the Resistance Front.
Iran opposes the construction of the Zangezur corridor because it would cut off the only land connection between Iran and Armenia and establish a direct link between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is close to Turkey and the West, and the United States supports this corridor. Western support for such regional issues by the Resistance Front is an indirect form of political opposition against Iran.
These praises for the Resistance Front are a political signal intended to show the West that we are partners in your strategic projects. Recently, there has been competition for support among anti-interim government groups, with each group seeing aligning themselves with American interests as a way to gain political legitimacy and support.
Overall, Trump’s gratitude regarding the Azerbaijan-Armenia issue and the Resistance Front’s stance on it have three objectives: first, to send a political message to Iran, showing Iran that if you don’t support us, we will ally with countries in the region that are your opponents. Second, It’s an attempt to approach the West, a front that openly supports the United States and Europe in America’s strategic interests, to show that they can remain loyal to the Washington and Brussels agenda. The third media and propaganda position is the demonstration, where they take a stance in an important geopolitical debate in the region to present themselves as active political player.
Well, the resistance front is losing the support of regional countries, especially Iran, due to such positions. Iran should also learn from such positions. By now, it must be clear to them how they supported a front for four years that is loyal to Western interests! Iran could put pressure on this front, expel its members from the country, and impose restrictions on its activities. If Iran had not adopted a policy of pressure and restrictions against the Resistance Front, it would have given space to a strategic enemy within its own country, which could ultimately harm Iran’s national security.
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