Iranian Government Enacts Violent Crackdown on Protests

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.

Celebrating Laudato Si’

by Shannon Kelly ’26 on October 9, 2025

News

A Speech from Pope Leo

On Wednesday, Oct. 1, Pope Leo XIV spoke at a conference centered on climate change in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. This was his first speech on the environment since becoming pope in May. In light of celebrating ten years of Laudato si’, an encyclical written by Pope Francis which focuses on the importance of caring for our common home, Pope Leo XIV centered his call around the need for global action to protect the world as we know it. As explained by Pope Leo XIV, “the challenges identified in Laudato si’ are in fact even more relevant today than they were 10 years ago.”

Pope Leo XIV put pressure on the people to call on their respective governments to take action and involve themselves in addressing one of the world’s most pressing issues—climate change. He emphasized the fact that “We cannot love God, whom we cannot see, while despising his creatures.” Pope Leo XIV also spoke to the connection that is often formed between environmental degradation and poverty. He continually emphasized the bond that remains between having a concern for nature, seeking justice for the poor, remaining committed to society, and desiring interior peace. He stated that striving for the common good should always be at the forefront of all that we do, while sticking to the fact that there is no room for indifference or resignation in conversations centered on climate change.

Pope Leo XIV acknowledged the need for upcoming international conferences, such as the 2025 Climate Change Conference, the 53rd Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security, and the 2026 Water Conference, to listen to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor, families, indigenous peoples, involuntary migrants, and believers all over the world. The Pope reminds us that we are all one family, who depend on one another and whose actions reap consequences both in the present day and in the future. Pope Leo XIV preached the need for unity in his own words: “We inhabit the same planet, and we must care for it together.”

Pope Leo XIV has recently spoken in regards to the political climate in the United States at this current moment. He weighed in on the dichotomy of those who say they are pro-life, but agree with the inhumane treatment of immigrants in the U.S., stating that he does not know if that is truly pro-life. Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich highlighted the divisions that exist in the U.S., saying that Catholics have been left “politically homeless.” In Pope Leo XIV’s final remarks, he concluded with a question regarding each and every one of us as people. After acknowledging that God asks us to cultivate and care for the world that he created, which we all are called to do as believers, we must reckon with taking true care of our brothers and sisters. Will we cultivate the earth, care for the environment, and support our loved ones for the benefit of future generations, or in the words of the Pope, “what will be our answer?”

Trump’s U.N. Meeting with Zelenskyy Signals Major Shift in U.S./Ukraine Relations

by Erich Rumson ’28 on October 2, 2025

News

Recent comments made by President Donald Trump following a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine at the U.N. signaled a stronger relationship between the two leaders, as Trump appears to have taken a more pro-Ukrainian stance. This shift takes place amidst stalled peace negotiations with Russia, which have not produced the cease-fire many Americans have been hoping for.

Following the Sept. 23 meeting at the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, which Zelensky called “a good conversation,” Trump commented on Truth Social that he was optimistic about Ukraine’s position in its war with Russia. In a surprising shift in rhetoric, the President said he believed Ukraine could reclaim all the territory it has lost and called Russia a “paper tiger” that has been “fighting aimlessly for three and a half years.” According to the Wall Street Journal, these comments reflect a major change from his previous stance, in which Trump expressed doubt that the war could end without Ukraine giving up territory.

Trump’s shift in attitude could reflect growing frustration with a lack of progress in peace talks with Russia. The president has long viewed ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in February 2022, as one of his major foreign policy goals. During his first months in office, Trump largely avoided harsh criticisms of Russia to get its president, Vladimir Putin, to the negotiating table. Although a summit between Trump and Putin was held in Alaska last month, it failed to produce an agreement, and Russia has shown no signs of stopping its attacks on Ukraine since. As a result, Trump has adopted a tougher stance towards Russia, becoming increasingly critical of Putin’s refusal to end the war.

Among the topics discussed at the meeting was Ukraine’s use of American long-range missiles. Although the U.S. has restricted Ukraine from using American missiles in strikes within Russia’s borders, Trump said during the meeting that he was now open to lifting those restrictions. Trump has also said he is open to supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles and other accurate long-range weapons, which the Wall Street Journal said “would be a major escalation in U.S. assistance.” In addition, Trump further reiterated his support for NATO and has vowed to continue to supply them with American weapons.

One notable development during recent events has been the much-improved relationship between Trump and Zelensky, which had previously been notoriously rocky. The two have been very critical of each other in the past, with the President having accused Zelensky of disrespecting his American allies, while Zelensky had claimed Trump was too close to Putin. Tensions between the two came to a head during a now-infamous Feb. 28 meeting at the White House, in which both leaders got into a heated argument during a live Oval Office press conference. The two have since appeared to have patched things up, as they have held several productive meetings, including an impromptu summit at the Vatican during Pope Francis’ funeral last April. At the U.N. meeting last week, Trump praised the Ukrainian war effort, saying they were doing “a very good job” of fighting the Russians. Zelensky, in turn, has since praised Trump’s support in trying to end the war, calling him a “game changer.” This week, Ukrainian officials are expected to meet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington to discuss potential changes in aid policy.