By Gloria Ogbonna
Protests against Iran’s ruling theocracy have rapidly expanded across the country, reaching most of Iran’s 31 provinces as of Tuesday, including cities long considered loyal bastions of the ayatollah’s rule.
What began as localized demonstrations has now evolved into a nationwide movement that many analysts say may surpass the scale and intensity of the 2022 “Women, Life, Freedom” uprising, which shook the foundations of the Islamic Republic.
Despite arrests, intimidation, and deadly force, demonstrators appear undeterred. The persistence and geographic spread of the protests suggest a deepening crisis for the regime, fueled by widespread anger over economic collapse, political repression, and years of costly foreign entanglements that have yielded little benefit for ordinary Iranians.
The BBC reported video-confirmed protests in at least 17 provinces, along with credible reports of demonstrations in 11 additional provinces that had not yet been fully documented with extensive footage as of Tuesday morning.
Verified videos of anti-government rallies have emerged from more than 50 towns and cities across Iran, including the so-called “holy cities” of Qom and Mashhad—locations traditionally viewed as ideological strongholds of the theocracy.
Outside observers say the appearance of sustained protests in these cities is especially significant. Analysts note that unrest in such regime “fortress” areas may indicate that even segments of the ayatollah’s core support base are losing faith, driven by what critics describe as profound mismanagement, corruption, and an economy in free fall.
So far, the Iranian government has not unleashed the kind of overwhelming and brutal crackdown seen during previous waves of unrest, including the suppression of the 2022 protests, the demonstrations following Iran’s military humiliation by Israel and the United States in the summer of 2025, and the mass protests after the disputed 2009 elections.
While human rights organizations report at least 25 deaths over the past nine days and confirm instances of state-sanctioned violence, Tehran’s response has been relatively restrained by historical standards.
Some analysts believe this caution may be linked to external pressure. President Donald Trump recently warned that the United States would consider military intervention if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” a message the Trump administration reiterated on Sunday following its high-profile operation to capture Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro.
The warning may have introduced an additional layer of calculation for Iranian leaders weighing their response.
At the same time, the regime is attempting a delicate political maneuver—drawing a distinction between protesters with “legitimate grievances” and so-called “rioters” allegedly backed by the United States and European powers.
Observers say an indiscriminate bloodbath would undermine the government’s efforts to portray itself as sympathetic to public suffering and could further inflame domestic and international opposition.
Nevertheless, violence has occurred. The BBC confirmed one incident in the western town of Malekshahi on Saturday, where regime forces reportedly opened fire on a small group of demonstrators gathered outside government offices.
In the nearby city of Ilam, security personnel allegedly fired shots at Imam Khomeini Hospital while injured protesters were receiving treatment—an incident that provoked enough outrage for even the secular Iranian government to promise an investigation.
Meanwhile, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) reported escalating street clashes between what it described as “rebellious youths” and security forces loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, including members of the State Security Force (SSF).
According to the group, protesters have set SSF motorcycles ablaze and attacked bases belonging to the Basij, a notorious paramilitary organization used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to crush dissent.
“In Aligudarz, hit-and-run street battles continued, forcing mercenaries to retreat,” the NCRI said, adding that in Mashhad and Neyriz, demonstrators burned banners bearing the image of Qassem Soleimani. Aligudarz, a provincial capital, has already seen several protesters killed by security forces, underscoring the growing human cost of the unrest.
Soleimani, the former commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, was killed in a U.S. drone strike ordered by President Trump in January 2020 while coordinating attacks against American forces in Iraq.
Although the regime elevated him to martyr status, many Iranians have come to view him as a symbol of the state’s prioritization of foreign military adventures over domestic well-being. Protesters’ acts of burning his portraits reflect growing resentment over the vast sums spent on proxy conflicts and regional influence campaigns.
According to the NCRI, chants heard across Iran increasingly call for regime change and openly demand the death of Ayatollah Khamenei.
Another phrase gaining traction both on the streets and on Iranian social media is “What a vain illusion!”—a pointed insult aimed at Khamenei following his declaration that Iran “will not give in to the enemy.” The phrase gained wider attention after it was echoed publicly by X owner Elon Musk.
The BBC also reported verified footage showing chants in support of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, signaling renewed nostalgia among some protesters for the pre-1979 Pahlavi era and an outright rejection of clerical rule.
Al Jazeera News suggested Tuesday that the regime’s long-standing tactic of blaming Western sanctions for Iran’s economic woes is losing effectiveness.
Despite deepening ties with China and Russia, living standards for most Iranians continue to deteriorate. At the same time, Iran’s once-expansive regional network—in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and Yemen—has been severely weakened. The new Syrian government has even dismissed Tehran’s demands for repayment of roughly $50 billion accumulated under the now-deposed Bashar Assad.
Al Jazeera further speculated that the regime’s effort to divide protesters from alleged foreign-backed agitators may reflect internal fractures within the government itself. Security forces, the report suggested, may fear becoming scapegoats—or even targets—should the theocracy collapse.
Adding to the sense of uncertainty, The Times of London reported on Monday that rumors are swirling about preparations for Ayatollah Khamenei to flee Iran if the unrest intensifies or if security forces withdraw their support.
According to the report, contingency plans could involve evacuation to Moscow, mirroring the escape route taken by Assad when Damascus fell in December 2024.
Such a departure would reportedly include Khamenei’s son Mojtaba—widely seen as a potential successor—along with close aides and substantial financial assets, properties abroad, and cash reserves to ensure a comfortable life in exile.
As protests continue to spread and public anger deepens, Iran’s ruling establishment faces what may be one of the most serious challenges to its authority in decades, with no clear path yet to restoring stability or public trust.
Source Breitbart
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