By Mafa Kwanisai Mafa

The world today stands on the edge of a dangerous escalation as the United States and Israel intensify their military aggression against Iran.

What is presented in Western media as “security operations” is, in reality, a continuation of a long-standing imperial project aimed at controlling the Middle East and suppressing any force that challenges American dominance.

For us in Zimbabwe and across Africa, this is not a distant conflict. It is a familiar story, one that echoes our own history of colonialism, resistance, and the ongoing fight for true independence.

Recent events show how rapidly the situation is deteriorating. Israel has launched large-scale airstrikes on Tehran, with hundreds of casualties reported within a short period, causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties.

At the same time, the United States has actively supported these operations, even targeting Iranian infrastructure and strategic sites. This is not defensive action; it is coordinated aggression designed to weaken a sovereign state that refuses to bow to imperial dictates.

The motives are clear. Iran represents one of the few states in the Middle East that has consistently resisted U.S. hegemony.

Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which overthrew a Western-backed monarchy, Iran has pursued an independent political path, rejecting foreign domination and asserting control over its own resources and destiny.

This revolution was not merely a national event; it was a profound anti-colonial statement that resonates deeply with Africa’s own liberation struggles.

Zimbabwe’s history offers a powerful lens through which to understand this moment. Like Iran, Zimbabwe fought a bitter war against a settler colonial regime backed by powerful Western interests.

The victories of our liberation movements were not handed to us; they were won through sacrifice, resilience, and a refusal to accept subjugation.

Today, when Iran asserts its sovereignty and resists foreign aggression, it is walking a path that Africans know all too well.

International law, which should serve as a shield for weaker nations, is being openly violated.

Legal experts and institutions have already condemned the joint U.S.-Israeli attacks as breaches of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of another state.

Yet, despite these clear violations, there is little accountability. This exposes a painful truth: international law is often applied selectively, manipulated to serve the interests of powerful nations while being ignored in their own actions.

The hypocrisy becomes even more glaring when we consider the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.

For years, Israel has carried out relentless military operations in Gaza, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, the majority of them civilians, including women and children.

The current war with Iran has only worsened the situation, diverting global attention while Israel tightens its grip on Gaza and restricts humanitarian aid. This is not a coincidence; it is a strategy.

The United States plays a central role in enabling this violence. Through military aid, diplomatic protection, and political cover, Washington has ensured that Israel operates with near-total impunity.

Even criticism is suppressed, as seen in the sanctioning of voices that expose Israeli war crimes. This is not the behaviour of a neutral arbiter; it is the conduct of an imperial power determined to maintain dominance at all costs.

Iran, therefore, is not simply a target; it is a threat to this system of control. By supporting resistance movements and refusing to align with U.S. interests, Iran challenges the geopolitical order that Washington seeks to impose.

Its influence in the region disrupts the monopoly of power that the United States and its allies have long enjoyed. This is why Iran is portrayed as the aggressor, even when it is responding to direct attacks on its territory.

Under international law, Iran has the right to defend itself. The UN Charter explicitly allows for self-defence in the event of an armed attack.

When Iranian forces respond to strikes on their soil or target military bases used against them, they are exercising a legitimate right. To deny this is to deny the basic principle of sovereignty itself.

For Africa, the implications are profound. Too often, African states have remained silent or neutral in the face of such injustices, either out of fear or economic dependency.

But history teaches us that neutrality in the face of oppression is complicity. During the anti-apartheid struggle, it was international solidarity that helped isolate the racist regime in South Africa. Today, a similar moral clarity is required.

African nations must not be afraid to take a stand. Supporting Iran and Palestine is not about choosing sides in a distant conflict; it is about defending the principles of sovereignty, justice, and human dignity.

It is about rejecting a global order that places some nations above the law while condemning others for far lesser actions.

Equally troubling is the role of certain Arab states, which have allowed their territories to be used as bases for U.S. military operations.

This complicity, combined with their silence on the suffering of Palestinians, represents a betrayal of both regional solidarity and human values. It highlights how imperial power often relies not only on force but also on division and collaboration.

The struggle unfolding in the Middle East is, at its core, part of a broader global contest between imperialism and self-determination. It is the same struggle that defined Africa’s fight against colonialism and apartheid.

The same forces that once supported colonial regimes now back modern systems of domination, using a new language but pursuing the same objectives.

In this context, Iran’s resilience stands as a powerful example. Despite decades of sanctions, military threats, and political isolation, it has maintained its sovereignty and continued to assert its place in the international system.

This is not to romanticise any state, but to recognise the significance of resistance in the face of overwhelming pressure.

The message for Africa is clear: our liberation is incomplete if we remain silent while others are oppressed. The fight against imperialism did not end with independence; it has simply taken new forms.

To honour our history, we must stand with those who resist domination, whether in Tehran, Gaza, or anywhere else.

In the end, the question is not whether Iran poses a threat to the United States. The real question is whether any nation that dares to be independent will be allowed to exist without facing aggression.

For those of us who understand the cost of freedom, the answer must be a resounding call for solidarity, justice, and resistance.

By Mafa Kwanisai Mafa

The world today stands on the edge of a dangerous escalation as the United States and Israel intensify their military aggression against Iran.

What is presented in Western media as “security operations” is, in reality, a continuation of a long-standing imperial project aimed at controlling the Middle East and suppressing any force that challenges American dominance.

For us in Zimbabwe and across Africa, this is not a distant conflict. It is a familiar story, one that echoes our own history of colonialism, resistance, and the ongoing fight for true independence.

Recent events show how rapidly the situation is deteriorating. Israel has launched large-scale airstrikes on Tehran, with hundreds of casualties reported within a short period, causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties.

At the same time, the United States has actively supported these operations, even targeting Iranian infrastructure and strategic sites. This is not defensive action; it is coordinated aggression designed to weaken a sovereign state that refuses to bow to imperial dictates.

The motives are clear. Iran represents one of the few states in the Middle East that has consistently resisted U.S. hegemony.

Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which overthrew a Western-backed monarchy, Iran has pursued an independent political path, rejecting foreign domination and asserting control over its own resources and destiny.

This revolution was not merely a national event; it was a profound anti-colonial statement that resonates deeply with Africa’s own liberation struggles.

Zimbabwe’s history offers a powerful lens through which to understand this moment. Like Iran, Zimbabwe fought a bitter war against a settler colonial regime backed by powerful Western interests.

The victories of our liberation movements were not handed to us; they were won through sacrifice, resilience, and a refusal to accept subjugation.

Today, when Iran asserts its sovereignty and resists foreign aggression, it is walking a path that Africans know all too well.

International law, which should serve as a shield for weaker nations, is being openly violated.

Legal experts and institutions have already condemned the joint U.S.-Israeli attacks as breaches of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of another state.

Yet, despite these clear violations, there is little accountability. This exposes a painful truth: international law is often applied selectively, manipulated to serve the interests of powerful nations while being ignored in their own actions.

The hypocrisy becomes even more glaring when we consider the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.

For years, Israel has carried out relentless military operations in Gaza, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, the majority of them civilians, including women and children.

The current war with Iran has only worsened the situation, diverting global attention while Israel tightens its grip on Gaza and restricts humanitarian aid. This is not a coincidence; it is a strategy.

The United States plays a central role in enabling this violence. Through military aid, diplomatic protection, and political cover, Washington has ensured that Israel operates with near-total impunity.

Even criticism is suppressed, as seen in the sanctioning of voices that expose Israeli war crimes. This is not the behaviour of a neutral arbiter; it is the conduct of an imperial power determined to maintain dominance at all costs.

Iran, therefore, is not simply a target; it is a threat to this system of control. By supporting resistance movements and refusing to align with U.S. interests, Iran challenges the geopolitical order that Washington seeks to impose.

Its influence in the region disrupts the monopoly of power that the United States and its allies have long enjoyed. This is why Iran is portrayed as the aggressor, even when it is responding to direct attacks on its territory.

Under international law, Iran has the right to defend itself. The UN Charter explicitly allows for self-defence in the event of an armed attack.

When Iranian forces respond to strikes on their soil or target military bases used against them, they are exercising a legitimate right. To deny this is to deny the basic principle of sovereignty itself.

For Africa, the implications are profound. Too often, African states have remained silent or neutral in the face of such injustices, either out of fear or economic dependency.

But history teaches us that neutrality in the face of oppression is complicity. During the anti-apartheid struggle, it was international solidarity that helped isolate the racist regime in South Africa. Today, a similar moral clarity is required.

African nations must not be afraid to take a stand. Supporting Iran and Palestine is not about choosing sides in a distant conflict; it is about defending the principles of sovereignty, justice, and human dignity.

It is about rejecting a global order that places some nations above the law while condemning others for far lesser actions.

Equally troubling is the role of certain Arab states, which have allowed their territories to be used as bases for U.S. military operations.

This complicity, combined with their silence on the suffering of Palestinians, represents a betrayal of both regional solidarity and human values. It highlights how imperial power often relies not only on force but also on division and collaboration.

The struggle unfolding in the Middle East is, at its core, part of a broader global contest between imperialism and self-determination. It is the same struggle that defined Africa’s fight against colonialism and apartheid.

The same forces that once supported colonial regimes now back modern systems of domination, using a new language but pursuing the same objectives.

In this context, Iran’s resilience stands as a powerful example. Despite decades of sanctions, military threats, and political isolation, it has maintained its sovereignty and continued to assert its place in the international system.

This is not to romanticise any state, but to recognise the significance of resistance in the face of overwhelming pressure.

The message for Africa is clear: our liberation is incomplete if we remain silent while others are oppressed. The fight against imperialism did not end with independence; it has simply taken new forms.

To honour our history, we must stand with those who resist domination, whether in Tehran, Gaza, or anywhere else.

In the end, the question is not whether Iran poses a threat to the United States. The real question is whether any nation that dares to be independent will be allowed to exist without facing aggression.

For those of us who understand the cost of freedom, the answer must be a resounding call for solidarity, justice, and resistance.