Pro-Pahlavi misinformation distorts Iran’s protests, playing into the regime’s narrative of foreign-backed conspiracies.
Browsing: Pahlavi
The IRGC’s control of 40% of the economy and its decentralized arms depots risk a violent scramble for power if the regime falls. While nostalgia for the monarchy persists, organized opposition remains fragmented, complicating any post‑theocratic transition.
Russia is arming Tehran with Spartak vehicles and Mi-28 helicopters to fight domestic insurgency. As Trump threatens military strikes, the Kremlin is studying Iran’s internet blackouts while positioning itself as a potential sanctuary for the fleeing clerical elite
Iran is trapped in a violent cycle as the rial’s value plummets and inflation soars. With over 500 dead, the Pezeshkian government faces a terminal legitimacy crisis, compounded by President Trump’s threats of military intervention against the regime.
Sadjadpour outlines five trajectories for Iran, ranging from a Russian-style nationalist strongman to a Chinese-style pragmatic autocracy. He argues that without an organized liberal opposition, the post-Khamenei era will likely be defined by military dominance or grievance-driven illiberal populism.
The current uprising is distinguished by widespread geography, diverse demographics, and the weakening of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance.” While regional powers fear instability, the potential for U.S. intervention and a looming succession crisis make the regime’s survival more uncertain than in previous years.