Is growing discontent in Iran a signal to the regime or the world?
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Over the past few years, Iran has witnessed growing popular discontent over a broad range of socioeconomic, political and security-related issues. The persistence of this discontent has created a new sense of urgency, signaling to both the Iranian government and the international community that the Iranian people are increasingly fed up with the status quo. But the question that arises and is of importance is: Is this discontent aimed more at the Islamic Republic’s political system, signaling that enough is enough, or is it a message to the international community asking for greater awareness and intervention?
Iran’s political climate has long been defined by authoritarian governance, limited freedoms and ideological control over public and private life. The gap between the Iranian government and its citizens seems to have widened since the contested 2009 presidential elections, which sparked the Green Movement, and the more recent protests of the winter of 2017-2018, November 2019 and during the fall of 2022. Widespread grievances have erupted over governmental corruption, lack of transparency and the repressive tactics used by authorities to suppress dissent.
The violent crackdown on protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022 highlighted how deep political frustrations run, particularly among younger generations and women. Many Iranians feel that their voices are systematically silenced, whether through censorship, imprisonment or violence. The constant repression suggests to many that the Islamic Republic is failing to evolve alongside its people, prompting calls for a normalization of the country’s economic and political situations. The political system’s rigid resistance to such calls further alienates its citizens, making people question the legitimacy of the regime.
Even under the Pezeshkian government, there is rising disillusionment among Iranians regarding the potential improvement of the dire socioeconomic situation. Masoud Pezeshkian was elected to deliver on his promise to suspend Western economic sanctions on Iran. However, Iran last week became the target of new European and US sanctions that focus on its oil industry, as well as on its flagship airline carrier, Iran Air. The national aircraft company is no longer able to fly directly from Iranian territories to European cities.
The Iranian economy has been struggling under the weight of mismanagement and international sanctions for years
Dr. Mohammed Al-Sulami
This rising international isolation is not likely to diffuse internal political discontent. Many Iranians see themselves as abandoned, with their government actively stifling any opportunity for meaningful dialogue or reform. The Iranian economy has been struggling under the weight of mismanagement and international sanctions for years. Macroeconomic issues such as high inflation, unemployment and currency devaluation have left many citizens grappling with poverty and limited opportunities. Even before the US imposed a fresh wave of sanctions following the Trump administration’s 2018 withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal, Iran’s economy was suffering. These sanctions compounded existing problems, making basic goods unaffordable and deepening societal inequality.
Many Iranians no longer trust the Iranian government to manage the economy effectively. They believe that the political leadership is benefiting from the country’s oil wealth and other resources, while the average citizen bears the brunt of poor governance and sanctions. The worsening standard of living, the rising cost of basic necessities, especially food products in general and fresh fruits and vegetables in particular, as well as limited prospects for economic mobility, have fueled resentment toward the ruling elite.
This economic dissatisfaction also has international implications. As Iran’s government continues to face sanctions for its nuclear ambitions and regional and foreign interventions, the population suffers. Some segments of Iranian society feel that external pressure, primarily from Western powers, has added to their hardship. This dual frustration — with both their government and the broader global community — reflects a complex reality: that many Iranians want reform, but they also want relief from international isolation. The economic crisis, then, is a signal to both the Islamic Republic and the international community that the Iranian people are suffocating under the current conditions.
Iran’s role in the broader Middle East and its focus on regional influence through proxy groups, from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen, has diverted attention away from domestic needs. Military interventions and the government’s insistence on funding its geopolitical agenda have led to a sense of insecurity at home, both economically and in terms of personal safety.
The complex reality is that many Iranians want reform, but they also want relief from international isolation
Dr. Mohammed Al-Sulami
Moreover, the regime’s heavy-handed security apparatus — the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij militias — has fostered a climate of fear. Iranian citizens are not just worried about external threats but also about their own government. Any form of dissent can result in harassment, imprisonment or worse. This internal security crackdown, coupled with the government’s focus on external threats, makes many Iranians feel that their concerns are being ignored.
The ongoing conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Palestine, in which Iran plays a strategic role, have only exacerbated public frustration. People are questioning why their resources are being poured into conflicts abroad while basic social services, infrastructure and economic stability at home are neglected. These concerns show that, for many Iranians, the security threat is not only external but also internal, coming from their own government’s priorities.
The increasing discontent in Iran is undeniably a signal to the Islamic Republic that its political, economic and security approaches are unsustainable. The people are tired of corruption, repression and economic hardship. They demand reform. And their voices, despite being stifled, are growing louder with every protest, every strike and every public expression of dissent.
The failure of the new “moderate” president to take action and deliver on the three main demands for change is now evident in the social, economic and foreign policy domains. With the rise of regional tensions, the role of Pezeshkian is nevertheless more likely to be limited to allow, to a certain extent, the public expression of rising popular discontent inside Iran, rather than to deliver long-term solutions to the deep-rooted challenges fueling popular dissatisfaction with the status quo inside Iran.
- Dr. Mohammed Al-Sulami is the founder and president of the International Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah). X: @mohalsulami
