Photo: EPA
Youth in Iran are increasingly expressing discontent with the government’s priorities, as anti-government demonstrations escalate and external pressures mount. According to Reuters, the clerical establishment appears unable to resolve the crisis, which has evolved into a legitimacy challenge at the heart of the Islamic Republic.
The protests, which began last month in Tehran, have spread to all 31 provinces but have not yet reached the scale of the 2022–2023 unrest triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in custody over alleged hijab violations. Initially sparked by shopkeepers’ outrage over the rial’s sharp decline, the new wave now involves mostly young men, rather than women and girls who were central to the Amini protests.
Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported at least 34 protesters and four security personnel killed, with 2,200 arrested. Analysts see this as evidence of deep disillusionment within the Shiite community. On January 8, Iran experienced a nationwide internet blackout lasting until the next day, coinciding with calls from abroad for renewed protests from Reza Pahlavi, son of the last shah.
Experts note that the protests reflect not just economic grievances but a broader loss of trust. Authorities are attempting a dual approach: acknowledging economic protests as legitimate while using force against violent demonstrations.
Nearly five decades after the Islamic Revolution, Iran’s leaders struggle to reconcile their priorities with the expectations of a young population, almost half under 30. Many young Iranians no longer identify with revolutionary slogans and seek freedom over ideological conformity. The hijab, once a central issue, is now worn selectively, and protesters also voice anger over Tehran’s regional military engagements, chanting slogans like “Not Gaza, not Lebanon, my life for Iran.”
Analysts suggest that while regime change is possible, it is not guaranteed. In the region, long-standing regimes have only fallen when protests were coupled with military intervention. Former US President Donald Trump stated that the US might support Iranian protesters if security forces use lethal force. Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has vowed that Tehran will not yield to external pressure, facing one of the most dangerous moments of his long rule.
Regional influence has also been weakened by Israeli strikes on Iran-backed allies in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria. Opinions remain divided in Iran over the likelihood of foreign military intervention, even as domestic opposition calls for further protests.
