Dissent remains in Iran despite $100k offer to explode US embassy in Israel
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal and moving its Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem has garnered Iranian introspection in addition to the regular anti-US rhetoric through governmental channels.
On Tuesday, the pro-regime Justice Student Movement offered a $100,000 cash reward “for anyone who explodes the US embassy in Jerusalem.”
"Death to America” images and slogans are seen and chanted through pro-government media. They were highlighted when hardline Iranian politicians burned a paper copy of the US flag following Trump announcing that the United States was withdrawing from the nuclear deal on May 8.
Despite these recent examples within Iran, Sadegh Zibakalam, a university professor of political science at Tehran University, made headlines when he formally asked for the interior ministry to allow him and others to hold demonstration against the anti-US rhetoric.
"I ask for a public demonstration to be allowed for those citizens who did not support the slogan of ‘Death to America’ and also do not wish for the elimination of any counties, including Israel,” read Zibakalam’s letter.
Zibakalam previously has made headlines with his refusal to trample on flags of Israel and the United States which were painted on the floor in the entrance of a school.
"I believe that anti-American sentiment began in 1979 after the occupation of US Embassy in Tehran. This policy and ideology really has brought considerable damage to our national interest,” Zibakalam told Belgium-based, Persian language Gooya News.
Iran’s top diplomat is working to save the nuclear deal on Tuesday, as the US imposed sanctions against the governor of Iran’s central bank, as well as the Iraq-based Al Bilad Islamic Bank “for moving millions of dollars” for the IRGC.
Zibakalam explained that "those supporting anti-American sentiment in Iran say that they are against the US to maintain Iran's independence. With this argument, Iran is the only independent country in the world."
He earned the Deutsche Welle 2018 Freedom of Speech Award on May 8.
"I think my crime is that, during an interview with Deutsche Welle, I gave a political opinion which was contrary to the government's opinion," Zibakalam told the German outlet after receiving the honor. "When the government says that the unrest was ordered by enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the government expects that everyone follows suit and repeats that opinion."