In my previous post, a friend left an interesting comment saying it is a paradox for them: How is it that those living outside Iran—many of whom are educated individuals—hold up photos of Reza Pahlavi, fly the previous Iranian flag and even the Israeli flag, and are completely opposed to the Islamic Republic, yet when we look at news inside Iran, we see a turnout of millions in the streets for the funeral of Ayatollah Khamenei? They asked me to write more about this contrast.
To understand this issue, one must distinguish between "diaspora media narrative" and "ground reality inside Iran":

1. The Diaspora Media Bubble:
   A large portion of the diaspora community has long been detached from the daily, underlying realities of society inside the country. Media and political actions abroad are mostly shaped by personal inclinations, virtual hype, and political games, rather than the genuine concerns of people inside. When someone aligns with foreign governments or factions (like Israel), they might think they are engaging in political struggle, but in the eyes of people inside Iran—for whom independence and border security are red lines—these actions are seen as playing right into the enemy's hands.
2. Lack of Understanding Regarding the Internal View on Security and Independence:
   Society inside Iran—even those who have grievances and criticisms—has shown during critical moments that it will not trade its security, independence, and territorial integrity for any foreign promise. The turnout of millions at Ayatollah Khamenei's funeral sent a clear message: the main body of the country prefers stability and standing firm against external pressure over putting faith in an opposition that lacks managerial experience and fails to take a real stance against atrocities or threats to its own people.
3. The Role of Funded Media and Brainwashing:
   Meanwhile, one cannot overlook the role of outlets like Iran International and similar channels, whose massive budgets are funded by countries like Saudi Arabia or Israel. Their main goal is to influence those with less access to information, souring public opinion and turning ground realities upside down. But the truth is miles away from their propaganda.
4. The Mindset Gap Between the Diaspora and Locals:
   Before the war started, some of these diaspora figures were pleading with Trump, sending messages like "Come attack Iran and strike the infrastructure so the government weakens!" They were under the illusion that a military attack would only hit the regime and leave Iran untouched, unaware that Trump's motives were always oil and partitioning Iran, with zero care for the people.
   But how did people inside Iran act? Now, 157 days into the war, the very people these media outlets claimed were against their own country come out to the streets every night despite all dangers, joining hands to support the military and territorial integrity.
   Even when infrastructure and bridges were threatened, locals—knowing full well the ruthless nature of the strikes, like the Minab school incident and attacks on hospitals—went onto bridges and surrounded key infrastructure to form human shields and prevent the destruction of their homeland.
   This is the reality of Iranian society. If we wanted to write about the sacrifices of these people, we could fill hundreds of pages with pure truth, not the false, polished rhetoric of satellite media.
   You can easily judge for yourself without even taking my word for it. Imagine you are an Iranian, born in Iran, with a deep attachment to your country and homeland: Which side would you stand on? I would love for you to leave a comment—even if it's just a short, one-word reply. What decision would you make, and which side would you choose?