Iran's regional expansion has primarily harmed Middle Eastern populations, not Western interests
Source: Elizabeth Tsurkov. "Iran’s War Is Not Only With the West - The Atlantic." March 16, 2026. www.theatlantic.com
The Gist
The author argues that when we talk about Iran's threat, we focus too much on dangers to America and Europe while ignoring that Iran's militias have actually killed and tortured far more people in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. She says Iran only succeeds in taking over countries that are already torn apart by war, and uses personal stories to show how brutal these militias are to local people.
Conclusion
Iran's expansionist project through proxy militias has caused far greater harm to regional populations in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon than to Western interests, and Western discourse fails to adequately recognize these primary victims
Premises
- Iran's proxy militias have systematically oppressed, tortured, and killed civilians in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon where they operate
- These militias only succeeded in establishing dominance in countries weakened by conflict and civil war, not in stable nations
- The scale of violence against regional populations far exceeds harm done to Western targets - militias killed hundreds of Americans but countless more Iraqi, Syrian, and Lebanese civilians
- Iran's proxies have engaged in sectarian violence, ethnic cleansing, siege warfare, and systematic torture against local populations
- Western policy discussions focus disproportionately on threats to Western interests while ignoring the primary victims in the region
- The author's personal experience of 903 days in captivity by Iranian-backed militias provides direct evidence of their brutality toward regional populations
Assumptions
- Western audiences and policymakers naturally prioritize Western victims over regional ones
- The imbalance of power between Iran and the West limits Iran's ability to significantly harm Western interests
- Personal testimonies and anecdotal evidence accurately represent broader patterns of Iranian proxy behavior
- Iran's regional expansion is primarily motivated by anti-Israeli objectives rather than other strategic goals