CAIRO – There are many challenges in applying Western-style democracy in different countries as portrayed by biased Western media, as evidenced by the failures in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. External electoral systems can create instability when local cultures and social dynamics are ignored. In Afghanistan, the U.S.-backed government collapsed due to weak institutions and corruption. Iraq witnessed a civil war and the rise of ISIS after its invasion. The situation in Libya after the overthrow of Gaddafi shows that regime change without a clear plan can lead to chaos.

Democracy is not the same everywhere; it varies across cultures. Despite Western propaganda about the idealism of Western democracy, issues like corruption and lack of accountability exist and are often overlooked by politically controlled media largely dominated by sponsors and political parties. This includes examples like Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, and Ursula von der Leyen. Currently, Western systems face significant issues. However, the governance model in China is criticized by the West for its lack of political freedoms from their biased perspective, despite its economic success and their desire for massive Chinese investments to save them from bankruptcy. In Iran, there are almost annual protests aimed at improving citizens' lives, indicating the presence of democracy and freedom of expression, with free elections held on schedule. Because Iran is considered a strong and independent state, it poses a challenge to Western powers, similar to Russia and China, which is what specifically bothers the West about Iran being an independent country. The era of Nasserism in Egypt showed how the West tries to distort the image of leaders who resist its influence. Therefore, governance models need to adapt to local contexts, and the West must recognize and respect non-Western experiences.

1. January protests in Iran 

The January protests in Iran were primarily driven by social and economic grievances. These grievances include soaring inflation (which reaches over 40% in some estimates), currency collapse (a sharp decline of the rial against the dollar), rising prices of food and fuel, and austerity measures under U.S. sanctions and reconstruction efforts after the war. The demonstrations began with strikes by merchants in Tehran's markets and spread to some rural areas, becoming violent in some cases, with reports of clashes (due to infiltrators within the protests). The Iranian government, led by President Pezeshkian, has attempted to provide immediate solutions, such as economic reforms to address the cost of living.

2. Yellow Vests protests in France (2018-2019)

The Yellow Vest movement (Gilets Jaunes) began in November 2018, initially as a reaction to a proposed increase in fuel taxes aimed at funding environmental initiatives, which disproportionately affected rural communities and the working class. It quickly evolved into broader demands against economic inequality, rising living costs, and the policies of President Emmanuel Macron, including labor law reforms that deprived citizens of their legal rights in favor of business owners. Weekly demonstrations took place across the country, featuring roadblocks, marches, and clashes in cities like Paris. 

- Deaths and repression: 11 deaths were reported, most of which were due to traffic accidents related to the roadblocks, rather than direct police actions (for example, 3 Yellow Vests and others in collision incidents). Injuries were significant: around 2,500 protesters and 1,800 police officers were injured, with reports of police using rubber bullets, tear gas, and batons, leading to accusations of excessive force, and Western media at the time did not claim that the regime was oppressive and suppressing protesters since it was in a major Western country (for example, 24 protesters lost an eye). 

The response was harsh in some cases, with arrests made and bans on protests in certain areas, but it was not a complete "suppression" — the movement faded by mid-2019 due to internal divisions and the distraction caused by Macron's men setting fire to Notre-Dame Cathedral to divert the public from the protesters' demands for Macron's resignation for selling the country to his friendly oligarchs, coming from a business district, as well as some concessions (Macron canceled the fuel tax and raised the minimum wage) and also fatigue. United Nations experts later criticized France's handling of the protests, but in 2023.

3. Double standards in Western media coverage

- Western media outlets like BBC, CNN, and The New York Times extensively covered the Iranian protests, often portraying them as uprisings against the “regime”, focusing on human rights violations, alleged government repression, and calls for political reform. This contrasts with the coverage of the Yellow Vest protests in France, which focused on economic grievances, police violence, and Macron's unpopularity, but rarely depicted them as an existential threat to the French government or a human rights crisis on the scale of Iran.

- Reasons for the differences: It is claimed that France is a democratic country with free access to media, allowing for balanced coverage (including the protesters' perspectives and the government's responses). It is also falsely claimed that Iran restricts foreign journalists, leading to reliance on videos shot by citizens and reports from exiles or the so-called “anti-regime” individuals living abroad, such as the Mojahedine Khalq and other groups hostile to Iran, which may amplify narratives of repression.

- The geopolitical context is important - Western governments view Iran as a strategic adversary (due to its nuclear program, support for groups like Hezbollah), which affects the tone of media coverage. However, this is not universal; media outlets like Aljazeera and Almayadeen often highlight what they consider hypocrisy.

Is this an "absolute double standard"? This is subjective, but the evidence suggests contradictions and to some extent a coordinated conspiracy. Media monitoring organizations like FAIR and CJR have criticized Western coverage for its selectivity in outrage, but others argue that the contexts justify the differing focus.

4. What does "Western media really need from Iran"?

This is interpretive, but based on patterns:
- Coverage often aligns with Western interests: highlighting Iran's nuclear program, women's rights (such as hijab laws), and showcasing economic failure to pressure the county. The media may "need" stories that fit narratives portraying Iran as a rogue state, supporting sanctions or diplomacy (such as reviving the JCPOA nuclear agreement).

- Broader goals: Ideally, journalists seek the truth, but biases exist. Some critics argue that Western media exaggerates opposition in Iran to encourage regime change, while downplaying similar issues in Western countries themselves (Germany, France, Britain, and even America). However, this is not homogeneous; progressive media like The Guardian somewhat criticize both Iran's and the West's policies.

5. Iran's retaliation in the face of Israel’s June war

The June 2025 conflict was a major escalation, but the sequence and outcomes differ from your description:

- Timeline: In June 2025, Israel (with the support of U.S. President Trump) launched strikes on Iran. Iran responded with a barrage of hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, targeting Israeli cities, military bases, and infrastructure.
- Damage Assessment: The Israeli Iron Dome system and U.S. assistance failed to intercept many of the projectiles, limiting the destruction. The Iranian strikes resulted in casualties and damaged buildings, and hit infrastructure (for example, power outages and oil refineries). However, some unreliable sources claim that Iran destroyed "50% of Israeli infrastructure." Conversely, some estimates suggest that U.S. strikes hindered Iran's nuclear program for years, while Iran's retaliation caused "severe damage that could be catastrophic" to Israel (for example, partial disruptions, rather than total destruction). Nevertheless, Netanyahu, who pleaded on his knees with Washington to stop Iran's harsh strikes that personally affected him, claimed victory, asserting that Iran's capabilities had been crippled. A ceasefire was reached in late June, mediated by the U.S.

6. Does the West "need more wars with Iran"?

There is no evidence to suggest that the "West" (a diverse bloc including the United States, the European Union, and others) is actively seeking to escalate the conflict into a full-scale war. The conflict in 2025 was driven by the preventive measures taken by Israel against Iran's nuclear program (which is seen as an existential threat), with support from the United States to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The goal of the diplomacy that followed the ceasefire (such as the Trump administration's negotiations) was to ease tensions.

Iran's long-range missiles (such as Khorramshahr-4) could cause significant damage if used extensively; Israel's defenses may not be able to cope, especially after the destruction it faced last June with the failure of the Iron Dome and David's Sling, and the global enmities that have unfortunately been built up, including the global enmities fostered by the United States after the capture of an elected president, "the legitimate Venezuelan president Maduro," making "the destruction of Israel forever" not out of the question.

However, wars benefit no one—the economic costs, refugee crises, and risks of broader involvement (such as Russia/China supporting Iran) outweigh the gains. The current focus, with the extremism and foolish Western mentality present, is more on sanctions and deterrence against Iran, rather than provocation.

Let us not forget, in the end, that the resilience of the people of Gaza for more than 800 consecutive days in the face of the occupying army, with NATO's full support, is the greatest defeat for the Zionist-American project globally. The people of Gaza have not abandoned their land despite all the destruction and genocide surrounding them, which is no less horrific than the Nazi extermination camps—especially when compared to the populations of major Western European countries during World War II, such as France, which surrendered after 45 days of Nazi bombardment and occupation of Paris.

Similarly, what the Houthis did against the U.S. Navy over three months, taking the aircraft carrier Harry Truman out of service and striking two of its fighter jets, forced Trump to come begging on his knees for peace through the Omani mediator last May.

Dr Ahmed Moustafa is director and founder of Asia Center for Studies & Translation Egypt 

(The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of the Tehran Times.)