Widespread anti-government protests have gripped Iran for over a week, with demonstrators taking to the streets in major cities, setting government buildings ablaze, and challenging authorities. The escalating unrest, fueled by economic hardship and discontent with the ruling regime, has prompted a reassessment of U.S. intelligence assessments regarding the stability of the Iranian government.
Escalating Protests and Government Response
Iranian cities have been the scene of significant unrest for the past twelve nights, with Thursday marking the largest demonstrations to date. Images have emerged showing government buildings on fire, while authorities have resorted to blocking internet access nationwide in an attempt to quell the dissent. The protests are largely driven by the country’s severe economic turmoil, exacerbated by renewed U.S. sanctions and the lingering effects of a recent conflict.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has acknowledged the government’s inability to resolve the current crisis. While he has instructed security forces to avoid harming peaceful demonstrators, he has differentiated between peaceful protesters and those engaging in violent acts. State media, however, has largely downplayed the scale of the protests.
Shifting U.S. Stance and Political Dynamics
Early in the week, U.S. intelligence had assessed that the protests did not pose a significant threat to the regime’s stability. However, recent developments have led to a reassessment of this view, with a senior U.S. official stating, “The protests are serious, and we will continue to monitor them.”
President Trump, while previously warning of potential military intervention if Iran harms protesters, offered a more restrained public comment. He suggested that some of the more than 30 reported protester deaths were due to “crowd control problems.” Trump also declined to explicitly endorse Reza Pahlavi, the son of the deposed Shah, who has been seeking a prominent role amidst the unrest and has called for further protests.
Some political figures in Washington have expressed hope that the current wave of protests could lead to the regime’s downfall, echoing sentiments from previous major protests in 2022 that weakened but did not topple the government. Senator Lindsey Graham has encouraged Iranians to escalate their protests, asserting that President Trump would support them.