The regime’s priority is survival: it is likely to intensify coercion while managing optics and blame to reduce the risk of a US-Israel intervention trigger.

From Chants to Confrontation: Rasht’s Escalation May Mark a New Phase in the Ongoing Protest Movement.

Iran’s media has branded protesters as foreign-backed terrorists to justify a crackdown. Tehran’s prosecutor is invoking moharebeh (a death-eligible charge)

The Iranian regime will not hesitate to apply maximum coercive power to suppress the protest

Zarif’s Foreign Affairs essay calls for change; conservatives reply with mockery, citing JCPOA betrayal

Tehran’s Arbaeen message fuses Karbala sacrifice with calls to eliminate Israel and expel U.S. influence.

Iran refuses Hezbollah disarmament, viewing its weapons as vital for Lebanon’s defense and regional anti-Israel strategy.

Khamenei frames the war as advancing the Resistance Front’s mission to dismantle and ultimately eliminate Israel.

Houthi Missiles, Iranian Signatures: A Rising Threat to Israel, the U.S., and Global Trade Routes

Iran faces global condemnation for terrorism and hostage diplomacy, yet remains unlikely to change its strategy.