# Will Canadians say no to a U.S.-led military intervention in Iran? Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm-Uc14FZCk Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/Fm-Uc14FZCk Generated: 2026-02-20T21:05:56.795+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The discussion concludes that there is no immediate Western military intervention in Iran regarding the current protests, despite calls for it, as the West prefers to avoid empowering the exiled Pahlavi faction and focuses instead on supporting domestic Iranian dissent through sustained, non-military means. **Key Points:** - No Western military intervention in Iran is currently being weighed by leaders, despite calls for regime change, because the West fears empowering the exiled Pahlavi faction. - Desmond Cole highlights Western media's tendency to frame the protests narrowly, focusing on the monarchy's opposition narrative rather than the broader, more nuanced demands of the Iranian people. - HRANA reported that between the start of the protests (September 2022) and January 8th/9th, 2023, at least 7,000 people were arrested, with over 11,700 injured and over 7,000 deaths confirmed under the regime's crackdown. - Samira Mohyeddin notes that the Iranian diaspora protests have coalesced around the figure of Reza Pahlavi, son of the former Shah, but points out that many protesters inside Iran do not support his return to monarchy. - The Canadian government, despite supporting the Iranian people's struggle, has imposed sanctions on seven individuals tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iranian state entities, but has refused to rule out future military strikes. - Mohyeddin suggests that the current protests are fundamentally different from the 1979 revolution as they are driven by diverse groups (workers, women, minorities) and are not solely focused on replacing the regime with a monarchy, but rather on achieving democracy and human rights. - The ongoing media focus on the exiled Pahlavi faction risks minimizing the genuine, grassroots nature of the internal Iranian struggle. ![Screenshot at 00:06: Journalist Desmond Cole introduces the episode of The Breach Show featuring sharp analysis on politics and movements in Canada and Iran, setting the stage for the discussion on the Iranian protests.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Fm-Uc14FZCk/00-00-06.jpg) **Context:** The Breach Show episode features host Desmond Cole interviewing journalist Samira Mohyeddin about the ongoing protests against the Iranian regime, which escalated following the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022. The discussion centers on the scale of the government's crackdown, the nature of the opposition's demands, the role of foreign powers like Canada and the US, and the risk of Western media narratives oversimplifying the movement by centering the exiled monarchist faction led by Reza Pahlavi. ## Detailed Analysis The discussion addresses recent protests against the Iranian regime, noting that despite calls for military intervention from some figures, Western leaders are hesitant, fearing that such action would inadvertently empower the exiled monarchist faction led by Reza Pahlavi. Samira Mohyeddin explains that the protests are broad, involving workers, women, minorities, and students, and their demands are diverse, often focusing on fundamental rights and democracy rather than simply restoring the monarchy. Mohyeddin points out that many inside Iran do not support Pahlavi's return, contrasting the current movement with the 1979 revolution. Cole cites statistics from HRANA indicating a high number of deaths (over 7,000 confirmed) and arrests (over 5,000) resulting from the crackdown. The conversation also touches upon the Canadian government's response, which includes sanctions against IRGC-linked individuals but a refusal to rule out future military action. Mohyeddin argues that the Western media often frames the conflict too narrowly, falling into the trap of promoting a simplistic binary narrative that favors the exiled Pahlavi faction, thereby overlooking the complexity and scope of the domestic opposition's goals. ### Iranian Protests Context - Protests across Iran against the Iranian regime continue, fueled by anger over economic hardship (e.g., currency collapse) and the systematic oppression of women and minorities. ### Government Response & Violence - The regime responded to protests (which started in December 2022, following Mahsa Amini's death) with violent crackdowns; HRANA reported over 7,000 deaths and over 11,700 injuries by early 2023. ### Western/Canadian Response - US and Canadian leaders are publicly weighing military intervention, but Mohyeddin suggests the West is reluctant to act militarily for fear of empowering the exiled monarchist faction led by Reza Pahlavi. ### Canadian Sanctions - Canada imposed sanctions on seven individuals tied to the IRGC and Iranian state entities, but refuses to rule out military strikes. ### Divergent Narratives - There is a conflict between the narrative pushed by the exiled Iranian opposition (often pro-Western and monarchist) and the actual, broader demands of protesters inside Iran, who seek democracy and human rights. ### Critique of Media Coverage - The media often falls into the trap of amplifying the Pahlavi faction's narrative, which is seen as self-serving and ignores the grassroots, diverse nature of the internal resistance. ![Screenshot at 00:06: The Breach Show logo appears, signaling the start of the discussion on Iranian and Canadian politics.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Fm-Uc14FZCk/00-00-06.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:06: Desmond Cole, Journalist & Author, hosts the show, setting the stage for the interview.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Fm-Uc14FZCk/00-00-06.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:48: Samira Mohyeddin, Journalist and founder of On The Line Media, joins the discussion as a guest.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Fm-Uc14FZCk/00-01-48.jpg) ![Screenshot at 02:29: The discussion shifts to the economic impact of the protests, with currency collapse mentioned as a key factor.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Fm-Uc14FZCk/00-02-29.jpg) ![Screenshot at 07:34: Samira Mohyeddin discusses the nature of the demands, contrasting them with previous uprisings.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/Fm-Uc14FZCk/00-07-34.jpg)