Politics1 min read

Iran’s Basij chief praises 'resistance cinema', saying that 'change has begun' in US, Israel

By · Via Middle East Eye · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Iranian Basij commander Hossein Taeb addressed attendees at the closing ceremony of the 19th International Resistance Film Festival in Tehran, lauding media as an instrument to dismantle the American media monopoly. He likened cultural figures operating in this sphere to frontline fighters who refuse to abandon their posts during active military defense. While addressing ongoing attacks across Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria, Taeb acknowledged widespread civilian suffering yet maintained that the United States and Israel have already lost the strategic conflict.

Key points

  • Iranian military leadership views cinema and media as vital tools to break the establishe…: Iranian military leadership views cinema and media as vital tools to break the established American media monopoly.
  • Officials claim that portrayed resistance inflicts distinct defeats on adversaries regard…: Officials claim that portrayed resistance inflicts distinct defeats on adversaries regardless of ongoing economic sieges or conflicts.
  • Tehran contends that the United States and Israel have emerged as the ultimate losers in…: Tehran contends that the United States and Israel have emerged as the ultimate losers in their broader regional campaigns.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Iran’s Basij commander Hossein Taeb has said that the US and Israel are seeing change amid their ongoing attempts at transforming the Middle East's landscape.

"Today, we say that change has begun in America and Israel, and we will soon see it across different areas," he said during the closing ceremony of the 19th International Resistance Film Festival in Tehran.

His highlighted the use of media and film as a way of "disrupting America’s media monopoly", describing it as "resistance cinema".

"The staging of this festival under such circumstances signifies that - much like a combatant who never abandons their launchers during military defence - an artist engaged in the 'perceptual battlefield' does not desert their post, even under the shadow of war, economic siege, or any other threat," he said.

"Through their portrayal of the Resistance, they inflict a new defeat upon the enemy."

Referencing US-Israeli attacks on Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, Taeb said: "All these crimes took place; children were killed, and the oppressed peoples of the region suffered. Yet, the true losers in this conflict were…

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