Thread by @AlirezaNader

The last 8 months has been one of the most eye opening times in my life, both personally & professionally. The December uprising showed me the critical state of #Iran. It was always hard to get information on areas outside of Tehran. But the uprising opened a whole new world.

As protestors took to the streets, I watched dozens of videos of people expressing their anger & desperation. I watched regime forces shooting & beating poor & thirsty people. I saw the world react with indifference. I saw how how the regime used the nuke agreement 2 oppress

#Iranians. I always knew how terrible this regime was. But the extent of its destruction became more clear than ever. I never thought Rouhani would improve #Iran. But I hoped that the benefits of the nuke agreement would trickle down. Maybe 30% of returned assets would be spent

On the people. But the regime swallowed the benefits whole. I knew it was corrupt & was slowly killing #Iran. But it’s killing #Iran much faster than I thought.
I learned more about the water crisis.
I learned more about environmental destruction.
I was worried about Iran.

Now I feel anguished, an anguish I haven’t felt so deeply in years. I feel that the country which gave me hope is now on the brink of total failure. I wanted to believe that #Iran would evolve. That the old regime generation would pass so there’d be change without chaos.

The uprising showed me it’s nearly too late for #Iran. There isn’t much time left.
I also escaped the DC bubble. I spoke to many people outside of the think tank/policy hive. I watched desperate Iranians cry out. Every day, for 8 months I’ve watched.

I saw people try to bully me to be quiet. I was told I’m an “exile” & don’t know better. That I didn’t live in Iran although it wasn’t my choice.
That I should have “humility.”

I saw how the nuke agreement was used to crush the people. I saw how influential the regime had become in DC.
And I escaped my bounds.
The time to act is now. It’s now or never for #Iran. There are no ideal options. The choices are painful.

Yet I have hope too. I’ve seen how #Iran can be rebuilt. I’ve imagined a new Iran. I believe every Iranian who wants freedom for Iran has a moral obligation to help. I’ll do what I can. I won’t stand silent & see the land of my birth burn down to the ground.