Takahashi, a professor of Human Rights and Peace Studies at Osaka Jogakuin University, in an interview with Tehran Times, denounces Trump’s performative support for Iranian protestors, highlights how sanctions exacerbate civilian suffering, exposes Western media bias in promoting regime-change narratives, and underscores Israel’s double standards on human rights.
Tehran – IranView24
Through his incendiary remarks, U.S. President Donald Trump channelled Iran’s peaceful protests—initially sparked by economic hardship under U.S.-led sanctions—toward violence and anarchy.
Writing on his Truth Social account on January 2, Trump told protestors that “the United States of America will come” to help you. In the same post, he also openly threatened military attack against Iran, saying, “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
January 3, he told protestors, “Stay strong, help is coming!”
On Janauary 13, he provoked the protestors to occupy the government building, saying, “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!”
Also, in a post on X on January 2, Mike Pompeo, the CIA chief and Secretary of State during Trump’s first presidency, confirmed the involvement of Mossad agents among the rioters in Iran. He wrote: “Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also to every Mossad agent walking beside them.”
During the 12-day war against Iran in June 2025, when Israel and the U.S. attacked Iran’s nuclear sites, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Iranians to hold protests to topple the Islamic Republic system.
Takahashi says, “The U.S. and Israel are in many ways a classic example of the drug dealer getting high on his own supply.”
Takahashi, who has served with Amnesty International, also says the U.S. “has absolutely zero credibility” on human rights.
The following is the text of the interview:
Trump openly encouraged Iranians to continue protesting while sanctions remain in place. How can the U.S. credibly claim concern for Iranians while intensifying economic warfare that directly worsens civilian living conditions?
Of course, the U.S. has absolutely zero credibility on this issue. The notion that the U.S. has any concern for the population of Iran is belied by its ongoing sanctions regime, its illegal military attack on the country last year, and its continuing support of illegal Israeli actions (including bombing of civilian infrastructure and the assassination of civilians). The U.S. and its Israeli proxy are interested in one thing: absolute domination in the Middle East and exploitation of the natural resources of other countries, all enforced brutally with savage military power. They have no regard whatsoever for the sovereignty of other countries, or for international law or norms in general.
Do you see Trump’s remarks as part of a broader information and psychological warfare strategy aimed at shaping perceptions rather than outcomes on the ground?
Shaping perceptions may be important, but I think the U.S. and Israel honestly believed it could steer the situation towards bringing down the Iranian government. The U.S. and Israel are in many ways a classic example of the drug dealer getting high on his own supply: they are so drunk with what they believe to be their omnipotence that they believe they can bring Iran to heel easily, and when it doesn’t work, they just get angrier and angrier, and use more brute force.
How have Western media outlets framed the January protests in Iran, and what key realities or voices do you believe are being marginalized or excluded?
Most of the Western media have been utterly shameless, acting as cheerleaders for U.S. and Israel-led regime change in Iran. They were boosting none other than the son of the former Shah as a serious political force in Iran, and a viable candidate for leader of a Western-friendly regime that would be imposed at the barrel of a gun. It was almost comical how ridiculous it was, at least to anybody with even a smattering of knowledge of the history of the region. Throughout this period, pro-monarchy diaspora groups and various CIA-funded NGOs were granted significant prominence. It was a concerted effort that failed miserably.
How influential is Israel in shaping Washington’s hardline rhetoric and policies toward Iran during periods of internal unrest?
Israel and the Zionist lobby [obviously these two are closely connected], of course, wield immense power in U.S. politics, at both the federal and state levels. Since Trump respects only money and brute force, he has been in lockstep with Israel throughout his presidency, both before and now. At the same time, the writing is on the wall: the American people have seen the true genocidal face of Israel, and support for the country within the U.S. has plummeted to unprecedented lows. Even within the MAGA movement as well, there is outrage at the prospect of more US lives and treasure squandered in wars on Israel’s behalf. That is exactly why the current repression of pro-Palestinian voices within the U.S. has been so severe; the Zionists see that they are fighting a losing battle. It is only a matter of time before there is a fundamental shift in U.S. policy.
How does Israel’s own treatment of dissent and protest contrast with its support for U.S. criticism of Iran on human rights pretext?
This is just another example of the blatant double standards at play. Israel cracks down brutally on any dissent throughout Palestine, using severe violence to oppress calls for Palestinian self-determination. The U.S. has been using the same playbook, with regard to pro-Palestinian protests during the Biden era, and now, under Trump, against any kind of opposition to government policy. The notion that either of these countries is a champion of democracy or the right to protest is a sick joke, and frankly, nobody is fooled.
