Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
March 1, 2026
Forty-seven years in the making, joy and celebration have come to the Persian people of what hopefully will no longer be called the Islamic Republic of Iran, but simply the Republic of Iran. Thanks to the United States of America and Israel, the more than 90 million people of Iran are one step closer to realizing true freedom.
The last 72 hours saw the early successes of Operation Epic Fury, including the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei and up to 40 of the key leadership personnel of the largest state sponsor of terror. The coordinated efforts of American President Donald J. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in months of preparations prior to launching this vital mission allowed for the pinpoint accuracy to hit military and government targets, not civilian targets as has been the response from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
This might not be a short operation and the hard work will follow. It will be up to the Iranian people to rebuild their government in the image of a free Persian people - with equality for men and women, safety for people of all faiths, educating their citizenry in ways that will promote the Republic of Iran’s return to the community of nations as a responsible country willing to work and play well with others.
The celebrations in the streets of Iran, around the United States, and elsewhere of Persians, Iranian-Americans, and their friends and supporters is a juxtaposition with the celebration of Purim, the Jewish holiday commencing Monday night, on 14 Adar on the Hebrew calendar, and March 2 on the Anglican calendar. Purim is also a celebration of freedom and salvation.
In fact the word Purim itself means “lots” in ancient Persian, as in a randomly drawn lot chosen by the wicked, virulent Jew-hater Haman, the prime minister of the Persian Kingdom under King Ahasuerus. Haman, who felt disrespected by the Jewish Mordechai who refused to bow down to Haman - as the Jewish people only bow down before G-d. Haman designated the date on the lot as the day the Jewish people in the kingdom would be slaughtered. This declaration by Haman had the support of King Ahasuerus, issuing a decree.
Some time prior to the king’s decree, he had his wife, Vashti the queen, executed for failing to obey him. He then chose Esther as his new wife and queen. Esther did not reveal her Jewish identity, which would later prove valuable. Esther’s cousin, Mordechai, an important leader of the Persian Jewish community, gathered his people for prayer, repentance, and fasting. Esther revealed her religious identity to her husband the king and foiled Haman’s plot of the destruction of the Jewish people. King Ahasuerus ordered Haman hung on the very gallows he built with which he planned to hang Mordechai. Ahasuerus rescinded the royal decree to slaughter the Jewish people, installed Mordechai as the new prime minister of the kingdom, and granted the Jewish people the right to defend themselves.
This is yet another miracle from G-d of the survival of the Jewish people. The history of Purim is told in the Book of Esther (Megillah) occurring in the 4th century BCE. What should have been a day of mourning is a tremendous festive celebration, not unlike what today’s Persian people, the Iranians, are currently enjoying thanks to the United States and Israel and the precision of Operation Epic Fury. It should be noted the 1990 Gulf War ended on Purim.
Operation Epic Fury is the help the Iranian people have desperately sought since 1979 under the Ayatollah Khomeini who overthrew the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The Ayatollah supported the Islamic extremists who stormed the American embassy taking 66 Americans hostage, holding 52 Americans for 444 days, released on January 20, 1981 - the day of Ronald Reagan’s inauguration as president of the United States.
For the next 47 years, 10 more under Khomeini, who began the oft-used references of the United States as the “Great Satan,” and Israel as the “Little Satan,” terms continued to this day and under Khamenei, who ruled the next 37 years, the Iranian people’s existence became a living hell. Women, denied rights, and relegated to wearing burkas and hijabs, often under penalty of death, suffered severely, including victims of honor killings at the hands of their own fathers and/or brothers. Women were barred from numerous jobs and professions, and often made to suffer in abusive marriages.
Homosexuals under the Ayatollahs suffered tremendously, subjected to abuse, torture, and murder - tossing them off the roofs of buildings to their certain deaths. Other ethnic and religious minorities endured severe adversity as well.
Naturally, a transition from a totalitarian radical Muslim dictatorship to something resembling a secular democracy of sorts, if that is what the Iranian people so desire, will not happen overnight. One name repeatedly floated as leader of Iran, even if temporary in a transitional state, is Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the Shah. His name has elicited positive responses from thousands of Iranians.
The time to strike is now as President Trump advised in an eight minute speech once Operation Epic Fury began. Trump offered sound advice in a serious, measured, important speech referring to both the history of the Iranian people and looking forward to what he and so many others are calling for a hopeful and bright future as the Republic of Iran.
“Finally, to the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight, that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered, don’t leave your home - it’s very dangerous outside - bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government - it will be yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations. For many years you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want,” said Trump, supporting the rank and file, freedom-seeking Iranians.
The Iranian so-called leadership rejected diplomacy, still calling for “Death to America,” and “Death to Israel,” and following the commencement of Operation Epic Fury, responded in kind firing off hundreds and hundreds of missiles and rockets not just at Israel, but a multitude of its Arab neighbors such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates each suffering casualties. Unfortunately, four American troops and 11 Israelis have also been killed due to Iranian military actions.
And while celebrations have erupted around the world, in New York City, Los Angeles, London, Istanbul, and Tokyo, among other locations, there are still those ignorant - willfully ignorant - anti-Trump, anti-America, anti-West, anti-woman protesters taking to the streets with their professionally made signs (how they were produced and distributed in mere hours is astounding) condemning the great efforts of the United States military and the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) to open the doors to freedom in Iran. These protesters are Islamo-Marxists who in no way have the best interest of the United States, Israel, or Iran at heart. Even the moronic Secretary General of the useless United Nations, Antonio Guterres, condemned Operation Epic Fury for ostensibly freeing more than 90 million Persians.
The likes of Zohran Mamdani, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and the rest of their squid remain recalcitrant in their support of radical Islam and the destruction of the United States, Israel, and Western Civilization. The overwhelming majority of the Democrats in both houses are also condemning Trump, Netanyahu, and the actions of the US military and the IDF. The Democrats do not support a free Iran. They do not support the rights of women in Iran. The do not support the rights of gays and other minorites in Iran. The Democrats said Trump is violating the War Powers Act - he is not - as he has the authority to conduct such operations for up to 60 days. The Democrats said Trump did not notify Congress of his actions, when according to the White House the Gang of Eight had been notified. Sadly, there are too many members of Congress (one is too many) who do not work for the best interest of the United States and simply cannot be trusted with such sensitive information. Quite frankly they have violated their oaths of office and should be removed from those offices and possibly prosecuted for treason.
One Democrat must be singled out and applauded for his staunch support of the United States military, this operation, as well as Israel, and the IDF, and that is Senator John Fetterman (D-PA). He has been the lone voice of reason within the Democrat Party, and must be recognized for that.
This is not an operation the United States is conducting for Israel. This is an operation the United States is conducting for the United States. Like Hamas in Gaza, this regime in Iran does not care about its people, witness the past 47 years. Also witness recent weeks when they have slaughtered more than 32,000 of their own people.
The United States will destroy Iran’s missile program - a program working toward reaching the United States. Iran can reach the Strait of Hormuz and many American ships. All infrastructure of the Ayatollah’s reign of terror must be destroyed in perpetuity. What also must be destroyed are the proxies supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Closer to home, Iran fervently supports the anti-American activities in Cuba, Venezuela, the Mexican drug cartels, and sleeper cells within the United States.
The United States and Israel are preventing the globalization of the Intifada - thwarting the efforts of the Islamic Republic of Iran there, before they reach the shores of the United States. (Although probably they have, as it is unknown how many Iranian terrorists illegally made their way into the United States during the last administration.)
The Islamic Republic of Iran never negotiated in good faith. They simply attempted to use sleight of hand - divert attention while still attempting to rebuild the nuclear capabilities the United States and Israel destroyed last June in the 12 Day War. This operation and these actions are a clear act of self defense. The United States and Israel will be celebrated as liberators of the Persian people in their own homeland. The Persian people once freed the Jewish people from the Babylonians, and now Israel is helping to repay the favor centuries later and free the Persian people. May G-d Bless the United States, Israel, and the free people of Iran.
Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.
