Iran's Social Unrest and the Future of the Regime

Thousands dead, internet blackouts, and a currency in freefall. When merchants in Tehran's upscale Monet Street shopping center closed their stores on December 28, 2025, they triggered something the Islamic Republic hadn't faced in its 46-year history: sustained, nationwide protests met with unprecedented brutality. With over 2,000 casualties, a collapsing economy, and an 86-year-old Supreme Leader whose refusal to compromise has left the regime with no exit strategy, Iran finds itself at a crossroads. On January 13, Wikistrat convened Iran experts Dr. Sina Azodi, Ahmad Hashemi, and Alex Vatanka to assess whether this time is different and what comes next