Iran at the crossroads: Internal unrest, external containment, and prolonged national rupture

THE current unrest in ran marks one of the most serious challenges faced by the Islamic Republic ince the early decades of its post-revolutionary history.

- By P.M. Amza

A crisis beyond the streets

What began as protests driven by economic hardship has steadily evolved into a wider confrontation over governance, legitimacy, and the future direction of the state. As demonstrations persist and repression deepens, Iran's domestic crisis has increasingly intersected with regional rivalries and global power politics, transforming internal unrest into an issue of international consequence.

This convergence of internal fragility and external pressure has ensured that Iran’s turmoil cannot be analysed solely through the lens of domestic politics. Instead, it reflects a complex interaction between economic distress, political alienation, and a geopolitical environment that has grown steadily more hostile over the past decade.

Economic breakdown as immediate trigger

At the root of the unrest les Iran's prolonged economic deterioration. Years of international sanctions, combined with structural inefficiencies, corruption, and policy mismanagement, have produced persistent inflation, sharp currency depreciation, and declining living standards For many lranians, access to basic necessities such as food, fuel, and medicine has become increasingly precarious. What distinguishes the present protests from earlier episodes is their social breadth. Demonstrations have drawn not only students and urban youth but also workers, traders, and lower-income groups traditionally viewed as less confrontational toward the state. This expansion beyond familiar protest constituencies suggests that dissatisfaction has penetrated the regime's historical support base, elevating the unrest from episodic protest to a systemic challenge.

From economic grievance to political alienation