The attacks between Iran and Israel, which have been carried out through proxy forces for a long time, turned into a hot conflict with Israel's comprehensive air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and high-ranking commanders in the early hours of 13 June. Israel's attacks targeted numerous nuclear and military facilities, including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran, and many high-ranking officials lost their lives. 

 

According to data released by Israel's emergency service, Magen David Adom, which was also targeted by Iranian missiles, residential areas, energy facilities and public buildings in many regions, including Haifa and Tel Aviv, were targeted. As the mutual attacks continue, many people have lost their lives. Rojin Mukriyan, a doctoral student at the University of Cork in Iran, shared her assessment of the developments with our agency. 

 

IRAN'S 20-YEAR PROXY POWER STRATEGY 

 

Rojin Mukriyan pointed out that Iran has maintained its presence in the region through proxy forces for the past 20 years, adding that the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 made it easier for Iran to expand its network of proxy forces. Rojin Mukriyan stated that Iran gained strength in both Iraq and Syria with the civil war that began in Syria in 2011, but that Iran's power in the region weakened with the Gaza-Israel conflict and the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime. 

 

Pointing out that new dynamics emerged in the Middle East with the re-election of Donald John Trump in the US elections, Rojin Mukriyan said: "Upon returning to the White House with his ‘America First’ and ‘Make America Great Again’ doctrines, and the promise to end prolonged conflicts, Trump sought a ‘peace through strength’ policy. However, his strategy has yet to yield effective solutions for the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the violence between Gaza and Israel. In the context of Iran's nuclear issue, Trump, who withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, aimed to negotiate a deal that would eliminate Iran's nuclear weapons potential. To achieve this, he presented the Iranian regime with two options under a two-month ultimatum: either accept zero uranium enrichment and sign the agreement or face military action against its nuclear sites. The Iranian regime miscalculated Trump's resolve, mistakenly believing that the U.S. would not permit Israel to attack Iran, given Trump's general disinterest in Middle Eastern entanglements.” 

 

NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS

 

Referring to the nuclear talks between Iran and the US, Rojin Mukriyan said, "After the fifth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. in Oman, a written proposal from Steve Witkoff was offered to Iran, which was ultimately rejected, with Iran promising to provide a counterproposal. As Trump's two-month ultimatum expired without an agreement, Israel seized the opportunity, receiving a green light from Trump to target Iranian nuclear facilities. It appears that an initial understanding between Trump and Netanyahu was that if Trump could not secure a nuclear deal based on zero uranium enrichment, Israel would be free to strike Iranian nuclear sites. This could increase pressure on Iran to accept Trump's terms.”

  

ABDULLAH ÖCALAN'S APPROACH 

 

 

Referring to the influence of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan on the peoples of the region, Rojin Mukriyan said, “Öcalan's approach holds the potential to end century bloodshed in the Middle East.” 

 

Rojin Mukriyan stressed to the fact that Abdullah Öcalan's ideas are rooted in regional realities: "The patriarchal nation-state has historically resulted in nothing but misery, massacre, hatred, and devastation. Society’s freedom cannot be safeguarded through the liberalized forms of democracy, a state democracy, that the U.S. represents, as it perpetuates inequality and domination. If the objective is to achieve freedom—both as self-determination and non-domination—then the solution lies within Öcalan’s proposal for peaceful coexistence, founded on horizontal power distribution and direct democracy. This framework fosters an inclusive and participatory political culture, allowing diverse voices to be heard and empowering communities to govern themselves. By shifting the focus from centralized authority to grassroots participation, Öcalan's vision offers a pathway toward a more equitable and harmonious society.”

 

THE KURDS AND THE EXAMPLE OF ROJAVA

 

Rojin Mukriyan added: “Abdullah Öcalan seeks to transcend the friend-enemy dialectic entrenched within the capitalist patriarchal nation-state system. Rather than aligning with one side of existing conflicts, he advocates for a ‘third way.’ This approach, distinct from Anthony Giddens' notion of a third way, represents a radical departure from the current system. Acknowledging the diversity and unique spatio-temporal dynamics of each society, Öcalan asserts that society can and should govern itself through collective organization. Öcalan's ideas have found practical expression in Rojava, where the Kurds have adopted this ‘third way’ politics to mobilize communities and foster transnational solidarity against oppression. Importantly, Öcalan's concepts are not rigid; they are adaptable to geopolitical circumstances, temporal shifts, and varying societal contexts. In conclusion, by empowering societies—particularly women—Öcalan aims to disrupt the vicious cycle of a state-centric world order, proposing a model of non-state self-determination.

 

 

Under the Apoist movement, the Kurds propose a vision centered on the peaceful coexistence of different nations through directly confederated societies. This vision seeks to recognize and preserve the material aspects of each culture while cautiously transcending ethno-nationalism. Instead of advocating for a traditional nation-state system, this framework presents the concept of a democratic nation. Here, a nation refers to a political community united by shared culture and a vision rooted in equality and diversity. Culture encompasses the collective mindset of each society here. A nation becomes democratic when it governs itself according to the principles of what Öcalan terms ‘democratic confederalism,’ which rests on the three pillars of direct democracy, gender emancipation, and ecology. This democratic nation model offers a form of non-state self-determination, suggesting that each society can and should govern itself based on its immediate collective political will. This vision not only has the potential to address the Kurdish issue in the Middle East but also holds promise for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

 

WOMEN AGAINST WAR

 

Underlining that women in Iran do not want war, Rojin Mukriyan concluded: "Recently, we have heard from various women’s collectives in Iran, including the ‘Women, Life, Freedom Collective,’ the ‘Baloch Women Movement,’ and ‘Feminist4Jina,’ which emerged from the 2022 ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ movement. These groups are standing against the ongoing war and are leading a campaign advocating for ‘no to war.’ They assert, loudly and unequivocally, that this conflict is not their war and condemn both sides—Israel and Iran. These collectives highlight that the Israeli regime under Netanyahu, which has massacred over 60,000 civilians in Gaza in less than two years, cannot bring freedom to the people. They are acutely aware of the dangers posed by this war, recognizing its potential to devastate civilian lives, including those of women and children, and to destroy vital infrastructure. Moreover, they understand that such conflicts often reproduce the forces of patriarchy, colonization, and domination. At this moment, we can assert that many women in Iran have already adopted a ‘third-way’ politics. However, the specifics of what this ‘third-way’ entails will unfold over time.”

 

MA / Berivan Kutlu