The policy of engagement has failed

The recent statement by Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, ASIO, that operatives linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were involved in directing violent attacks on Australian soil is more than just a security report. It raises an important question for the Australian Government and other democratic nations.

If the Islamic Republic Regime in Iran, is now seen as a threat to Australia’s national security, why were the warnings of the Iranian people ignored for so many years?

For more than four decades, Iranians have been telling the world about the nature of this regime. Thousands of people have been killed during protests, executions, political repression, and violent crackdowns. Thousands of families have lost loved ones, and millions have been forced to leave their homeland.

Despite this, many Western governments continued a policy of engagement with the Islamic Republic, hoping it would lead to positive change. Many believe that policy has failed.

Now, according to Australia’s own intelligence officials, threats linked to the Islamic Republic have reached Australian soil. This raises another difficult question. Should democratic governments only take strong action when their own citizens become targets? Were the lives of Iranian victims not important enough to deserve the same level of concern?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has often spoken about the importance of human rights, the rule of law, and the rules based international order. These values only have real meaning if they are applied consistently. If a government is accused of serious human rights abuses at home and is also believed to be involved in violent activities beyond its borders, it is reasonable for Australians to expect their government’s policies to reflect that reality.

This is not only about Iran and Iranian people. It is also about Australia’s own security and the values it stands for. Australia is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence partnership, created to protect democratic nations from international security threats. If Australia’s intelligence agencies have concluded that people linked to the Islamic Republic were involved in planning violent acts in Australia, that assessment should also influence political and diplomatic decisions.

At the same time, the world should never confuse the Islamic Republic with the people of Iran. Millions of Iranians have risked their freedom and even their lives in the hope of building a democratic future. Many believe the international community should listen more carefully to these voices and engage more seriously with those who support democracy and freedom.

This is not a call for war or military intervention. It is a call to rethink a policy that has been followed for decades but has produced few positive results.

If democratic nations truly believe in human rights and international security, they must clearly distinguish between the Iranian people and a government that has repeatedly been accused of serious human rights abuses and actions that threaten regional and international stability.

Perhaps it is time for the Australian Government to answer one simple question:

If the Islamic Republic in Iran, is now considered a threat to Australia’s security, why did it take so long for the democratic world to hear the voices of millions of Iranians who have been warning about this regime for decades?

Leila Naseri is an author, composer, and social cultural activist.