by Erich Rumson ’28 on January 22, 2026
News
Iran has been the subject of worldwide attention for weeks as protests erupted across the country in late December. The demonstrations, which according to the Associated Press began as a response to economic struggles, have been the most significant in the country since the 1979 Iranian Revolution and have led to speculation as to whether the current regime would stay in power. President Trump issued numerous threats to the Iranian leaders in early January that violence against protestors could result in U.S. airstrikes. However, following a violent crackdown on the demonstration resulting in thousands of deaths, the protests appear to have largely stopped, although tensions still remain high in the country.
The recent wave of unrest began primarily as a result of an economic crisis that has intensified in the last few months. The Iranian currency, the rial, has been subject to crippling inflation which has made buying basic necessities such as food and gasoline increasingly difficult. The country’s economic problems have been made worse by sanctions imposed by the U.N. in September in response to Iran continuing its nuclear program, which many fear could lead to Iran developing a nuclear weapon. In response to the crisis, protestors began taking to the streets in late December, calling for everything from economic and political reforms to outright regime change. Many leaders worldwide issued statements supporting the protests, including President Trump, who threatened military action against the Iranian regime in support of the protestors, posting on Truth Social, “Help is on the way.”
The protests continued for weeks and spread to cities across the country. Government security forces initially responded to the protestors with tear gas and nonlethal weapons. However, as the demonstrations intensified during the weekend of Jan. 8, government forces began using lethal force, killing thousands of marchers. Tens of thousands are believed to have been arrested, and the Iranian government has threatened to execute many who were taken into custody. The true scale of the crackdown, including the death toll, is largely unknown, as the Iranian government has shut down internet service, limiting the flow of information out of the country. The violent response from the Iranian regime appears to have largely stopped the protests, at least temporarily, as the streets of the capital city of Tehran have been reportedly quiet since the brutal crackdown.
The violent actions of the Iranian government against their citizens have led to widespread condemnation worldwide. President Trump seriously considered launching retaliatory strikes last Wednesday, and even directed the Pentagon to begin preparations. But with the protests having slowed down and fears of military action leading to a wider conflict, no strike was ordered, at least for the time being. Trump has not ruled out military action if the Iranian government executes protestors in custody, though he has since taken a lighter stance after being told that Iranian leaders have cancelled previously scheduled executions.
Tensions between Iran and the U.S. have existed for decades. Iran is currently run by a theocratic government based on fundamentalist Islamic law and led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Its elections are tightly controlled and the government has long been criticized for human rights violations and its sponsorship of terrorist organizations. The current regime was put in place following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, in which widespread protests fueled by anti-Western sentiment forced its previous leader, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, into exile. Prior to the Revolution, Iran was considered a major Cold War ally to the U.S., who backed the Shah’s government. The U.S. supported the Shah’s government due to Iran’s proximity to the Soviet Union and the desire to prevent the expansion of communism in the Middle East, as well as Iran’s extensive oil supply. Many Iranians did not support the Shah at this time because they felt that the regime was serving foreign interests, rather than the interests of their own people. Since the Revolution however, relations with the country have been strained, especially in recent years due to its nuclear program. Last June, during what has been referred to as the 12 Day War, the U.S. joined Israel in bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities, causing extensive damage to the country’s capacity to enrich uranium, which is needed for nuclear weapons. The strikes on Iran last June showed major weakness in the current Iranian regime, which is believed to have emboldened protestors calling for a new government.
The current situation in Iran remains rife with uncertainty, as the violent crackdown on protests has likely only increased anti-government sentiment in the country. The economic circumstances sparking the unrest remain unresolved, putting a significant amount of pressure on the Iranian government. Though the protests appear to have largely stopped for the time being, the possibility of further unrest remains very possible, even likely.