As threats of a military strike against Iran heighten, a frightening question comes to mind: where are the world’s anti-war groups, and why are they not active enough when it comes to Iran?

In other words, why does the activity level of anti-war activists, particularly those in the West, not match the increasing intensity of military threats as voiced in speeches of analysts, politicians, and various officials?

One important reason for this lack of activity is the de facto engagement of major Western countries in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which diverts much of the public’s attention and leaves less room to ponder about a prospective war against a new nation.

However, in addition to the aforementioned reason, there are other important reasons explaining the lack of activity on the part of Western anti-war protestors that are related to the nature of the Iranian government.

One important reason in this respect is that a majority of Western peace activists are diametrically opposed to nuclear proliferation. For this reason, and in spite of their natural aversion to war, they are worried about the Islamic Republic’s nuclear ambitions. In reality, they are not opposed to pressuring the Iranian government into abandoning its nuclear program. These groups, though they oppose taking military action against Iran, will nevertheless be less motivated and encouraged to mobilize their forces in defense of an Iranian regime under global pressure to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Another important reason explaining the lack of activism on the part of Western peace activists is the Iranian government’s extremely negative reputation on the global stage. For instance, Western public opinion was bombarded this past summer with repeated pictures and reports of public executions in Iran and Ahmadinejad’s provocative speeches.

The relative inactivity of global peace activists is a frightening fact that must be taken seriously by civil society activists. The continuation of this trend will send a wrong message to proponents of military action against Iran: a message stating that military action will have minimal public opinion blowback.

Meanwhile, rather than being concerned with the prospect of a military strike, the Iranian government essentially denies such a possibility and spends its effort trying to keep secret an important fact: that the West’s red line with respect to Iran’s nuclear program is not the “production” of a nuclear weapon but rather the “potential” to produce one. Western countries will rule out no option, not even that of a military strike, in order to prevent Iran from reaching this potential.

At this moment, there is an urgent need for Iranian and Western peace movements to find unity. Such a union will allow domestic peace activists to protest the Islamic Republic’s confrontational policies while encouraging international anti-war groups to oppose taking military action against Iran. The important question facing us right now is whether we – inside or outside Iran – are aware of our historic mission - and whether we will take action at the appropriate time.