by Shahbod Noori
08/11/2026
For decades, millions of Iranians have spoken out against the Islamic Republic. We have condemned a system built on intimidation, corruption, censorship, injustice, propaganda, and the silencing of dissent.
Many of us left our homeland because we refused to accept those realities. We came to America, Canada, Europe, and elsewhere hoping to build new lives based on freedom, opportunity, and respect.
Yet lately, I have found myself asking a difficult question:
Did we escape only the Islamic Republic—or did we bring parts of its culture with us?
It is not an easy question, but it is one we must have the courage to ask.
Take an honest look at parts of our own community.
How often do we celebrate another Iranian’s success?
And how often do we search for ways to criticize, undermine, or discredit that success?
Too often, instead of supporting one another, we spread rumors.
Instead of encouraging each other, we compete with jealousy.
Instead of respecting different opinions, we turn disagreements into personal battles.
Political differences become personal hatred.
Personal conflicts become lifelong enemies.
And in the end, everyone loses.
Is this not the very culture we spent years criticizing?
The Islamic Republic did not maintain power through force alone.
It also survived by creating distrust.
It encouraged people to become suspicious of one another.
It rewarded division.
It normalized character assassination.
It taught people that destroying an opponent was easier than debating ideas.
Now, thousands of miles away from that system, we must ask ourselves:
Have we truly left those habits behind?
Within the Iranian community abroad, we sometimes witness a painful reality.
When an Iranian opens a successful business, instead of celebrating, some begin spreading gossip.
When an Iranian artist gains recognition, criticism often arrives before congratulations.
When a journalist, entrepreneur, or community leader achieves success, there are always those waiting for failure rather than hoping for continued success.
Why?
Why is another Iranian’s achievement so difficult for some of us to celebrate?
Look at many of the world’s most successful immigrant communities.
They support one another.
They build business networks.
They invest in each other’s success.
They understand that when one member of the community succeeds, everyone benefits.
That spirit has helped Jewish, Korean, Indian, Chinese, Armenian, and many other immigrant communities become powerful economic and social forces.
Imagine what the Iranian community could accomplish if we developed the same culture of cooperation.
We are blessed with extraordinary talent.
Iranian physicians save lives every day.
Iranian engineers design remarkable innovations.
Iranian scientists conduct groundbreaking research.
Iranian entrepreneurs create successful businesses.
Iranian artists enrich the cultural life of every country they enter.
Our greatest weakness has never been intelligence.
Our greatest weakness has too often been our inability to unite.
If the Islamic Republic were to disappear tomorrow, could we rebuild Iran while continuing to distrust one another?
Could we build democracy without learning mutual respect?
Could we create justice while practicing personal destruction?
The answer is obvious.
Governments alone do not determine a nation’s future.
Cultures do.
If we cannot tolerate opposing opinions…
If we believe another person’s success somehow diminishes our own…
If insults replace dialogue…
If rumors travel faster than truth…
Then the problem extends beyond politics.
Part of the challenge lies within ourselves.
This is not written to condemn the Iranian people.
It is written because I believe we are capable of something far greater.
We come from one of the world’s oldest civilizations.
Our heritage gave humanity the timeless principles of Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds.
Those words should not remain only in history books.
They should define the way we live today.
If we truly hope to build a different Iran tomorrow, the transformation must begin with us.
It begins by respecting one another.
By celebrating another Iranian’s achievements instead of envying them.
By accepting disagreement without hatred.
By rejecting gossip, division, and personal attacks.
One day the Islamic Republic may become history.
But if hatred, jealousy, distrust, and character assassination continue to live within us, then only the name of the government will have changed.
A free Iran cannot be built by elections alone.
It must also be built upon character.
Upon respect.
Upon trust.
Upon integrity.
And upon a generation that understands that climbing higher never requires pulling another Iranian down.
Perhaps our greatest victory will not simply be replacing one political system with another.
Perhaps our greatest victory will be overcoming the habits that decades of dictatorship tried to leave behind.
Only then will Iran become not only freer—but truly worthy of its extraordinary future.
— Shahbod Noori
Editor-in-Chief
Tehran International Weekly Magazine