Justice VS Injustice

Mukinthan Thurajasingham

Iran is today exposing on the global stage what it describes as the double standards of the Western world, which frequently presents itself as a champion of “justice” and “democracy.”

Iran’s political leadership, which openly condemns what it considers injustice, has increasingly positioned itself as a counterpoint to Western narratives, drawing attention from several countries.

According to Iranian authorities, unrest within the country was instigated by groups operating with foreign financial support. These groups allegedly carried out coordinated violence, including the killing of security personnel and the destruction of public property, in an attempt to destabilize the state. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched operations to restore order and protect national sovereignty.

However, the European Union has designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization and imposed sanctions on it. Critics in Iran argue that this reflects a Western tendency to label a state’s defensive actions as terrorism.

At the same time, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to unfold under global scrutiny.

Thousands of civilians—including children, women, and the elderly—have reportedly been killed. Journalists covering events on the ground and humanitarian workers have also been targeted, while hospitals have been destroyed and access to food severely restricted.

Despite these developments, Israeli military forces have not been designated as terrorist entities by Western governments. This disparity, Iranian commentators argue, raises questions about the consistency of international standards of justice.

The United States and Israel possess nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, and have conducted military operations abroad without facing comparable international consequences. Iran, by contrast, is criticized even for developing defensive capabilities, a position Tehran views as evidence of Western dominance rather than democratic principle.

While many countries remain silent, Iran portrays itself as standing alone against what it calls global injustice. Iranian officials and analysts argue that Western notions of justice function as a political tool serving powerful interests, rather than as universal principles.

Despite decades of economic sanctions, Iran has expanded its military and technological capabilities. Officials emphasize that this progress reflects not only military strength but also a policy of economic and strategic self-reliance.

Iran has developed advanced unmanned aerial vehicles, including the Shahed series, which it claims can effectively penetrate air-defense systems at low cost. The country has also announced the development of long-range ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons, capabilities that have drawn international attention.

In the field of electronic warfare, Iran claims it has successfully disrupted and forced the landing of advanced U.S. surveillance drones.

Although Western powers previously sought to isolate Iran, Tehran has emerged as a significant force in the Middle East. As violence continues in Gaza, Iran has positioned itself as one of the few states openly opposing Israeli military actions.

Iranian commentators pose a central question: if nuclear weapons held by the United States and Israel are not viewed as global threats, why are Iran’s defensive measures portrayed as destabilizing?

Through its policies and rhetoric, Iran presents itself as challenging what it calls Western “performative democracy,” arguing that resistance to injustice requires resolve rather than alliances.

Iran’s message, as articulated by its supporters, is that confronting injustice does not depend on international approval, but on political will. Even if isolated, they argue, Iran continues to frame itself as standing on the side of justice.

— Mukinthan Thurajasingham