law professor & legal historian | writing Imperialism & Resistance for @stanfordpress | associate editor @MidEastCritique | views obviously my own
Jan 15 • 13 tweets • 7 min read
The claim that anti-imperialists use Iran for their own foreign agenda is anti-dialectical, ahistorical and incorrect. Equating anti-imperialism with the far right is unconscionable and disingenuous. Here is a 🧵 explaining why.
The US views Iran as its greatest enemy in West Asia, a bulwark against US domination of the region. It uses devastating sanctions and repeated military incursions through its proxy Israel to undermine Iranian independence & sovereignty. 2/n
Jan 13 • 15 tweets • 6 min read
Some have asked why Iran isn't capitalist. Here is another 🧵 explaining Iran's location in the global economy. I start with some background information. Resources are included.
Many of Iran's natural resources and other enterprises are state-controlled, or majority ownership is held by state institutions. Iran is often described as a welfare state, where many necessities of modern life were once heavily subsidized. 2/n
Jan 11 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
IRAN IN THE AUTUMN OF US IMPERIALISM, a historical & analytical 🧵 to dispel the myths. Research articles included.
Since 1979, Iran has been the greatest nation-state threat to US imperialism's domination of West Asia. The US armed Iraq & launched the Iran-Iraq War to destroy the Revolution and the threat it posed to imperialism. It failed. 2/n
Jul 16, 2025 • 13 tweets • 2 min read
On Imperialism's Traveling War: By launching a renewed invasion of Syria, Israel has played right into the hands of the regional anti-imperialist resistance. 1/n
The plan appears to have been to overthrow or dramatically weaken the Iranian government, and then walk into Syria and take it, both diplomatically through normalization and militarily. The problem is that Israel lost the 12-Day War with Iran. 2/n
Jan 15, 2025 • 12 tweets • 2 min read
🧵 on the ceasefire deal. This is a massive victory brought about by the Palestinian resistance & the popular cradle that supported it first & foremost, followed by the forces in the Axis of Resistance next, and then solidarity movements around the world. 1/n
In fall 2023, resistance leaders said that this battle is not the final war of liberation but rather a key (and possibly penultimate) battle in the struggle for Palestinian and regional liberation from colonialism and Western imperialism. 2/n
Dec 17, 2024 • 17 tweets • 3 min read
There's significant confusion about Iran & the Axis of Resistance. Each time the Axis suffers a setback, many question Irans commitment to anti-imperialism. Below, I explain why this is misguided & reflects ignorance of natl liberation theory & Irani history.
In the 46 years since the IRI came into power, it has either been at war with the US or had US wars at its borders, coupled with severe blockades & sanctions. This persistent & total violence led IRI to develop a sophisticated philosophy of self-defense. 2/n
Dec 14, 2024 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
A thread in response to Rashid Khalidi as well: 1- Professor Khalidi was my undergraduate IR professor. I was always grateful for his presence & support at UChicago. I have cited his work, and I continue to hold members of his family dear.
2- Unfortunately, however, he has made comments or taken positions that are problematic or ahistorical. Just last year, he made a racist remark about Indigenous people.
