US Strikes on Iran: International and Domestic Responses
Escalations, protests, and even fears of Iranian "sleeper cells"
On June 22, 2025, the United States, in a coordinated effort with Israel, executed significant airstrikes against key Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. The operation, which involved the use of advanced bunker-buster bombs and Tomahawk missiles, aimed to eliminate Iran's nuclear enrichment capabilities and curb the threat posed by Tehran's nuclear ambitions. U.S. President Donald Trump framed the strikes as a "spectacular military success," intended to neutralize the nuclear threat posed by the "world's number one state sponsor of terror."
While much of the world celebrated the success of the mission, some other reactions ranged from calls for diplomacy and de-escalation to expressions of alarm about the potential for a broader regional conflict, the radicalization of protest movements, and a roundup of major demonstrations now unfolding in American cities in opposition to the strikes.
UN Secretary-General: Urgent Calls for Restraint
UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement expressing grave concern over the US strikes, warning that the situation could spiral out of control and threaten global security. Guterres called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, adhere to the UN Charter, and return to the negotiating table:
“There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world. In this dangerous hour, it is extremely important to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only way forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.”
Threats to U.S. Security: Sleeper Cells and Heightened Surveillance
The FBI has increased surveillance of suspected sleeper cells, reflecting fears of retaliatory attacks on U.S. soil. This heightened vigilance is not without precedent; previous plots linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have targeted American officials and dissidents.
The proactive stance is grounded in the recognition that Iran’s network of proxies and operatives poses a real and present danger to U.S. interests, both domestically and abroad. The Trump administration, for its part, has reiterated its commitment to denying Iran any path to nuclear weapons and to holding Tehran accountable for breaches of international obligations.
Escalating Rhetoric from Anti-Western Networks in the U.S.
Anti-Western and anti-Israel networks in the United States have escalated their rhetoric in the wake of the US strikes on Iran, openly embracing radical positions and amplifying calls for confrontation. The National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) declared, “The Zionist entity has been attempting to ignite a regional war since the day the genocide began,” and further insisted, “Israel’s actions are those of a colonial project that knows its time has come to a close—the world wants Israel to be dismantled, and for Palestine to be free.”
Within Our Lifetime – Palestine has used its platform to call for mass mobilization, sharing slogans such as “From Iran to Palestine, from Lebanon to Syria to Yemen, it is our duty from within the belly of the beast to stand against the U.S. empire and Zionist entity’s barbaric, illegal genocidal aggression, and to stand by all those resisting the ongoing genocide in Gaza by any means necessary.”
Critics say these statements illustrate a pattern of radicalization within these networks, as they move beyond policy critique to embrace maximalist demands and justify confrontation with both Israel and the United States. Their rhetoric, which includes calls for dismantling Israel and direct action against Western interests, underscores the extreme positions shaping the current protest movement.
Upcoming Anti-Western Protests
Among the most notable entities organizing so-called “Emergency Protest Against US Strikes on Iran“ is the ANSWER Coalition, a U.S.-based activist group allegedly tied to China. Below is a partial list of protests the coalition is organizing:
1. New York City, New York
Date: June 22, 2025, 2:00 PM
Location: W43rd St and 7th Ave, Army Recruitment Center in Times Square
Organizer: ANSWER Coalition
Focus: Opposition to US military strikes on Iran and solidarity with Iran and Palestine (same for all)
2. Washington, D.C.
Date: June 22, 2025, 2:00 PM
Location: White House, Washington, D.C.
Organizer: ANSWER Coalition
3. San Francisco, California
Date: June 22, 2025, 2:00 PM
Location: Embarcadero Plaza
Organizer: ANSWER Coalition
4. Louisville, Kentucky
Date: June 22, 2025, 2:00 PM
Location: 972 Baxter Ave
Organizer: ANSWER Coalition
5. Boston, Massachusetts
Date: June 22, 2025, 1:00 PM
Location: Park Street Station
Organizer: ANSWER Coalition