Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association Supports “Targeted Actions” Against Government Officials in Wake of U.S. Military Operations

Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA) has released a statement backing the “targeted actions against government officials and oppressive agents” following a joint military operation by the United States and Israel on Feb 28 in Iran that caused the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The filmmakers’ group also called for the protection of the civilian population of Iran.

“The Islamic regime in Iran, following the national uprising and tragic massacre of January 2025, has left its defenseless citizens with no option but to seek urgent humanitarian intervention from the international community,” reads the statement. The Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association was founded in 2022 following the Women, Life, Freedom movement, and claims to be made up of members of Iran’s disident filmmaking community.

The statement continued: “In this context, the Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA) calls upon the international community to uphold Iran’s sovereignty and to prioritize the protection of tens of millions of citizens held hostage by the Islamic regime. We advocate for targeted actions against government officials and oppressive agents while avoiding harm to innocent civilians. It is essential to put an end to this archaic cycle of patriarchal violence.”

The IIFMA statement comes after the U.S. and Israel began a surprise coordinated military operation in Iran on Feb 28 that has seen missile strikes in the capital, Tehran, and across the country continue into Sunday. In a message, President Donald Trump said the attacks were an attempt to wipe out Iran’s nuclear capabilities and to bring about regime change.

The attacks also come after a crackdown by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard on anti-government protests on Jan 8 and Jan 9, which killed over an estimated 30,000 civilians. In addition to Khamenei, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard was killed during the Feb 28 military operation.

A retaliatory strike from the Islamic Republic has reportedly killed three American Army soldiers deployed in Kuwait. Counterattacks have also struck U.S. bases in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Read the full statement from the IIFMA below.

The Islamic regime in Iran, following the national uprising and tragic massacre of January 2025, has left its defenseless citizens with no option but to seek urgent humanitarian intervention from the international community. For decades, this regime has squandered national wealth on nuclear and military infrastructure while imposing harsh sanctions that have devastated the populace. Its recent cowardly attacks on neighboring countries reveal its weakening grasp on power.

In this context, the Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA) calls upon the international community to uphold Iran’s sovereignty and to prioritize the protection of tens of millions of citizens held hostage by the Islamic regime. We advocate for targeted actions against government officials and oppressive agents while avoiding harm to innocent civilians. It is essential to put an end to this archaic cycle of patriarchal violence.

IIFMA is particularly concerned for the lives of all prisoners, especially those involved in the ongoing Revolution. We are alarmed by the regime’s deceitful tactics, which may lead to a repeat of the Cinema Rex tragedy, where blame for civilian deaths is shifted onto foreign actors.

In these challenging times, it is only through united resistance against theocracy that we can hope to end violence and forge a path toward lasting peace and freedom. True peace is not merely the absence of conflict; it is built upon the foundation of genuine liberty and dignity for all.