Chicago, June 27, 2025 | By Hriday Raval
In an exclusive and hard-hitting episode of The India–US–Israel Partnership, host Hriday Raval engages in a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Richard Benkin, an American human rights activist, journalist, and a fearless advocate for Israel. The discussion revolves around the Israel–Iran conflict, the rise of Islamist extremism, and the global shift in power dynamics, with a blunt central message: Regime change in Iran is not only necessary, it is inevitable.
🎯 Ideology of Hate, Not the People
🎯 Ideology of Hate, Not the People
Dr. Benkin began by clarifying that the hostility is not between the people of Iran and Israel, but between Israel and the radical Islamist regime that occupies Iran today. “There is real affection between the people of Israel and the Persian people,” he emphasized, but what stands in the way is a violent ideology that hates Jews, Hindus, Christians, and even moderate Muslims.
💣 From Bombing Sites to Breaking Systems
💣 From Bombing Sites to Breaking Systems
With the recent joint strikes by the U.S. and Israel on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Hriday asked the pressing question: Is this just about halting nukes, or is regime change the actual goal?
Dr. Benkin’s response was unequivocal:
“You can’t defang a regime whose very ideology is built on hatred. Regime change was always the endgame — because that’s the only way peace can return to the region.”
He likened Iran’s system to the old Soviet-style buffer states and claimed its so-called “Ring of Resistance” — Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis — has now crumbled.
🌍 Global Implications: A Blow to China, Russia & Radical Axis
🌍 Global Implications: A Blow to China, Russia & Radical Axis
According to Benkin, Iran was a key pillar of a rising axis of authoritarianism, supported by Russia and China. With the U.S. and Israel taking Iran off the chessboard, both Russia’s war in Ukraine and China’s oil supply lines are now under threat.
“This was a big win for democratic nations,” he said, adding that the U.S.–Israel action revealed the incredible potential of coordinated global power — if nations like India, Israel, and the U.S. stand united.
🚨 The Islamist Takeover: From Europe to New York
🚨 The Islamist Takeover: From Europe to New York
Turning westward, Hriday raised concern over rising Islamist influence in the West — from radical violence in Paris to Zohran Mamdani’s controversial win in New York’s mayoral primary. Benkin warned that the extremist ideology is spreading, not because it is strong, but because democracies are unwilling to push back.
“They want to take us back to the Middle Ages,” he said. “If this spreads unchecked, Hindus and Jews will be forced underground — while Islamist regimes teach their children to kill civilians in the name of religion.”
🆘 Bangladesh Hindus: The Forgotten Atrocities
🆘 Bangladesh Hindus: The Forgotten Atrocities
A large segment of the conversation was devoted to the crisis facing Hindus in Bangladesh, which Dr. Benkin has tracked for years. He condemned the silence of the global community and accused Bangladesh’s current regime of active participation in anti-Hindu violence.
“We’re seeing Hindu teachers fired, Hindu homes burned, and nothing done about it. This is how the Nazi persecution of Jews began — not with death camps, but with dismissal and exclusion,” Benkin warned.
He called on India and the U.S. to use trade and water diplomacy as leverage to stop this rising extremism, urging action before it’s too late.
💥 After Iran — What Next?
💥 After Iran — What Next?
Discussing the post-Iran scenario, Benkin said:
Hezbollah is degraded and hesitant to act.
Hamas is financially choked and militarily weakened.
Syria has broken ranks with Iran, possibly moving toward the Abraham Accords.
While Israel may not militarily occupy these territories, Benkin emphasized that the people themselves — in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran — must now rise against extremism and choose peace.
🇶🇦 Qatar, 🇹🇷 Turkey, and the West’s Blind Spot
🇶🇦 Qatar, 🇹🇷 Turkey, and the West’s Blind Spot
On Qatar and Turkey, Benkin remained skeptical. Despite Qatar hosting U.S. bases, he called for caution due to its history of funding extremism and propaganda through Al Jazeera. He also warned about Turkey’s shifting alliances under Erdogan, saying the West must rethink its ties.
☢️ Pakistan: The Next Threat?
☢️ Pakistan: The Next Threat?
When asked if Pakistan might be next, Dr. Benkin noted that while Israel sees it as a threat, the issue is more central to India.
“Pakistan cares only about Punjabis, not Hindus, Pashtuns, or Baloch. It’s played a double game with the U.S. and should not be trusted — even if it pretends to be friendly.”
He advocated for intelligence coordination between India, Israel, and the U.S. to monitor Pakistan’s nuclear assets and prevent any future crisis.
🔗 A New Future: The India–Middle East–Europe Corridor
🔗 A New Future: The India–Middle East–Europe Corridor
Ending on a strategic note, Dr. Benkin praised the proposed India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor, seeing it as a major counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
“China’s economy is shrinking. This corridor, backed by the U.S., India, and Israel, offers prosperity without debt traps — and shows the world a better way forward.”
🕊️ Final Message
🕊️ Final Message
“If India, the U.S., and Israel stay firm together — nothing can stop us from helping the world achieve peace, prosperity, and security.”
Dr. Benkin’s interview was a powerful call for moral clarity, strategic unity, and unwavering courage in the face of rising global threats.
Watch the entire video here:
Watch the entire video here:
