Following widespread US and Israeli strikes on key military and political centres of the Islamic Republic, this statement by Asqar Karimi argues that unlike the objectives of the twelve-day war, the aim this time appears to be political changes at the top of the ruling structure, and that regardless of the goals of the USA and Israel in this operation, people should aim for the strengthening of their political and popular organisations in the current situation so in the critical developments ahead the initiative falls into their hands.
Widespread US and Israeli military strikes on the Islamic Republic across the country
Asqar Karimi
28 February 2026
In addition to military centres, the Supreme Leader’s office, ministries, security institutions and military and political officials of the Islamic Republic are among the targets of these attacks. This indicates that the objectives of the military operation are fundamentally different from the twelve-day war. This time, the aim appears to be political changes at the top of the ruling structure. Regardless of the goals of the US and Israeli governments, it is the revolutionary people who can advance against the entire system with any degree of weakening of the regime. They are not the saviours of the people — it is the people themselves who must prepare to overthrow the Islamic Republic and liberate society.
It is highly likely that the regime will lose control of affairs and that conditions will emerge for a mass offensive against the government. This is a revolutionary society, and people are deeply enraged against the regime. Even today, in some places, chants of “Death to the dictator” were heard. The balance of forces may be shifting in favour of a popular assault; what matters is that people prepare themselves as much as possible.
The regime has announced the closure of schools and universities. Government offices are partially shut down. People must prepare themselves, including for large-scale and nationwide strikes and a general strike, so that the conditions can be created for a return to the streets. Forming strike committees in workplaces and service sectors, strengthening workers’, student and teachers’ organisations, reinforcing mutual aid networks, and organising in neighbourhoods in order to prepare to take control of neighbourhoods and cities — all of these are among the tasks now facing worker leaders and activists, teachers, students and workers in the service sector.
In such conditions, people need to strengthen their own political party — and every party and organisation that stands for the people taking power and shaping a system based on welfare, freedom, justice, the removal of religion from people’s lives and an end to poverty and deprivation. This is a moment of political choice, so that once again we do not allow someone to rise above the people and impose repression, poverty and deprivation on them. Organisation is the key to conscious and powerful popular intervention in this period — organisation in local bodies, in workplaces and places of study, and increasingly within one’s own political party.
