IRGC-linked University of Tehran professor Mohammad Marandi has drawn attention for an interview in which he predicted Israel’s imminent collapse and praised the sacrifices of groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian civilians. The remarks, delivered amid January 2026 crackdowns in Iran that included an internet blackout and the deaths of over 12,000 protesters, reflect the stark irony of the regime defending external causes while repressing its own citizens.

Marandi claimed that Israel has delegitimized itself over the past two years and three months, citing what he described as unprecedented global opposition to Zionism. “I never thought I would witness a moment when young people across the United States and Europe…respond so positively…that I feel it may be time for me to retire because they are so much better than me,” he said. He framed these international responses as a “victory,” despite acknowledging the heavy human cost.

The professor also lauded Hezbollah and Hamas for sacrificing themselves for others, describing their actions as heroic and placing them in a “special place in heaven.” He extended similar praise to Palestinian men, women, and children, along with civil society actors who resisted, presenting these sacrifices as the highest principle.

Marandi’s statements come as Iran continues to suppress domestic dissent violently, highlighting the contrast between the regime’s external rhetoric and its internal human rights abuses. Analysts note that his remarks serve to frame external conflicts as moral victories while deflecting attention from the ongoing repression at home.

The interview, conducted with journalist Dimitri Lascaris, underscores the regime-aligned narrative that positions opposition to Israel as a unifying, global moral cause, even as the Iranian government simultaneously silences its own population.