In the latest episode of MintCast, MintPress director and host Mnar Adley is joined by Dr. Setareh Sadeqi, assistant professor at the University of Tehran, to examine how the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran is unfolding on the ground as Iranian Women lead massive rallies defying US imperialism and orientalist narratives about “oppressed” Iranian women needing American freedom — and how it is reshaping both Iranian society and the global economy.
Western leaders have framed the war as a mission to “liberate” Iranian women. But according to Sadeqi, that narrative is collapsing in the face of reality.
“Women are not welcoming this,” she explains. “They are among those marching in the streets, defending their country and rejecting foreign intervention.”
Across Iran, millions have mobilized in response to the ongoing attacks, forming national unity across political, social, and generational lines. Rather than weakening the country internally, the war appears to have strengthened a collective sense of resistance — particularly among women, who are playing a visible role in demonstrations and civil defense efforts.
At the same time, the humanitarian toll is mounting. Iranian officials report that more than 300 medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed in just one month, alongside strikes on major universities and civilian infrastructure. Videos circulating online show healthcare workers attempting to save patients — including newborn infants — as hospitals come under bombardment.
Western corporate media largely avoided using terms like “genocide” to describe the situation in Iran, despite the scale of destruction.
“There is a clear gap between what is happening and how it is being reported,” she says.
Beyond the immediate human cost, the war is also triggering profound global consequences.
Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply flows — has introduced new uncertainty into energy markets. Tehran’s reported push for non-dollar payment systems, including transactions in Chinese yuan, has intensified debate over the future of the petrodollar.
“This is not just a regional war,” Sadeqi explains. “It is about who controls the global economic system.”
Washington has struggled to secure broad international support for its campaign, while Iran has strengthened ties with China and Russia, accelerating a shift toward a more multipolar world. At the same time, cracks are appearing within the U.S.-aligned bloc, as regional actors balance public neutrality with behind-the-scenes involvement.
For many Iranians, however, the reality of the war is far more immediate. The destruction of hospitals, universities, and civilian infrastructure has blurred the line between military and civilian targets, raising serious questions about the true objectives of the campaign.
What emerges from Sadeqi’s account is a stark contradiction: a war justified in the name of liberation, but experienced by those on the ground as collective punishment.
As the conflict continues, that contradiction is becoming harder to sustain — not only within Iran, but across a world increasingly shaped by its consequences.
