How Elon Musk Gave Iranian Protesters Their Rallying Cry

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Elon Musk gave a shot in the arm to Iranians who are rebelling against the tyrannical Islamic regime, issuing a post on X that has now been echoed by the populace as they seek, against all odds, to battle against a regime that is armed, while the people themselves have to respond with sticks and stones.

Over the weekend, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei — who is rumored to be looking to escape to Russia as the heroic protesters challenge his regime — wrote on X:  “We will not give in to the enemy.”

 

Musk replied in Persian, “زهی خیال باطل,” variously translated as “Wishful thinking!” “In your dreams!” or “Fat chance!”

As famed Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad — who has been the target of two assassination attempts for her work challenging the Iranian regime — reported, “One day later, the same words echoed in a village called Chenar, in Asadabad, Hamedan; خامنه‌ای قاتل، زهی خیال باطل This is what happens when technology breaks censorship. Dictators can block the internet. They can’t block ideas.”

Alinejad has survived numerous plots against her by the Iranian government. As the Human Rights Foundation reported in November 2024, “The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) condemns the assassination plot, made public today by the U.S. Department of Justice, against Iranian journalist, women’s rights activist, and former Oslo Freedom Forum speaker Masih Alinejad. This is the third attempt on her life in the last three years orchestrated by the Iranian regime.”

Meanwhile, the Iranian people bravely continue in their tenth day of protesting against the regime:

 

This is what Iran looked like before the Islamic regime took over in 1979:

 

On Tuesday, Reza Pahlavi, the leader of the Iranian democratic opposition and the eldest son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last shah of Iran, wrote in an opinion piece:

The Islamic Republic has exhausted its legitimacy, and after almost 47 years, the country wants to be free. The courage of these men and women deserves more than sympathy. It demands clarity, preparation and responsible leadership — inside Iran and among those who influence global affairs. Because Iran’s liberation will mean much more than a restoration of dignity to Iranians. It will bring a global peace dividend of almost unimaginable proportions.

That’s why I welcome President Donald Trump’s clear and firm support for the Iranian people. His message that the United States stands with those who seek freedom rather than with a regime that exports terror and instability has resonated deeply inside Iran. For protesters facing prison, torture, or death, knowing they are not alone matters. For the regime, it is a reminder that intimidation no longer guarantees survival. We saw proof of that in Venezuela.

The Islamic Republic of Iran today is weaker and more divided than at any point since 1979. Its response to peaceful dissent — mass arrests, executions and repression — shows the regime is afraid. According to human rights organizations, at least 1,500 executions were carried out from January to early December of last year, a sharp rise from 2024. Religious minorities — Christians, Jews and Baha’is — face systematic persecution. The regime’s violence is not a sign of its permanence; it is the behavior of a system struggling to maintain control.

Despite this pressure, the Iranian people persist. In recent days, protests have escalated in nearly all provinces and over 100 cities across Iran. …

History rarely announces its turning points in advance. But today, the signs are unmistakable. The Iranian people are moving forward with courage and determination. What they need now is a world prepared to support a responsible transition. The time is now. Do not simply observe the birth of a new Iran. Work with us to ensure that it is peaceful, stable and worthy of the sacrifices its people are making.



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