- January 9, 2026
- 1:09 pm
- Middle East
Anti-government protests in Iran are gaining scale and going beyond the usual outbreaks of discontent. It is no longer about isolated demonstrations, but a systemic crisis of trust in the Islamic Republic, which the clergy is facing for the first time in many years in such an acute form.
The demonstrations, which began in Tehran, quickly spread to all 31 provinces of the country. In their dynamics, they differ from the unrest following the death of Mahsa Amini: the current protests are less symbolic but much more socially and economically motivated.
Who is taking to the streets and why
If previously women and youth played a key role in the protests, now the main participants are young men. Their demands are directly related to the economic collapse: devaluation of income, unemployment, rising prices, and lack of prospects.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, during the latest unrest, 34 protesters and 4 security personnel were killed, and about 2200 people were arrested. These figures reflect not only the harshness of the suppression but also the scale of disappointment, including within the Shiite community β the traditional social support of the regime.
Internet, exile, and lost control
On Thursday, the authorities shut down the internet β a step that has long been a marker of the seriousness of the situation in Iran. This coincided with public calls for protests from Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah of Iran.
Middle East Institute expert Alex Vatanka emphasizes: the decline affects not only the rial exchange rate. The very trust in the state is under threat, and it is no longer possible to restore it with economic measures.
Ideology no longer works
Almost half of Iran’s population is young people who grew up after the 1979 revolution. For this generation, revolutionary slogans have lost their meaning. Former officials from the reformist camp openly admit: the ideological foundation of the Islamic Republic no longer mobilizes or convinces.
The hijab, previously perceived as an integral part of public order, is now observed selectively. More and more women are demonstratively refusing it, turning everyday behavior into a form of quiet protest.
Foreign policy as an irritant
At rallies, slogans against Tehran’s support for armed groups outside the country are increasingly heard. For protesters, this is direct evidence of distorted priorities: resources are spent on external conflicts, while economic and social problems accumulate within the country.
This shift is especially painful for the clergy, as it undermines the narrative of “external enemies” as a justification for internal hardships.
The regime is at its limit, but not on the brink of collapse
According to Vatanka, Iran’s clerical system has approached the limit of its strategy β a combination of repression and limited concessions. The room for maneuver is shrinking, but this does not guarantee the automatic fall of the regime.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is experiencing one of the most challenging periods of his rule. His long-standing course β a focus on regional alliances and the nuclear program β is now under simultaneous internal and external pressure.
The weakening of Iran’s positions in the region, including due to Israeli strikes on its allies, increases nervousness within the elites. Meanwhile, Iranian society is divided: some fear foreign intervention, while others believe the time for change is near.
A point of uncertainty
Iran has found itself at the intersection of economic, climate, social, and political crises. The regime’s resilience is not yet exhausted, but the previous mechanisms of control are increasingly failing.
The question today is not whether changes will begin, but at what cost the regime will try to postpone them β and whether it can hold on in conditions where legitimacy is undermined not by opposition slogans, but by the everyday reality of millions of citizens. It is in this context that the situation is assessed by NAnews β News of Israel | Nikk.Agency.
