Can Iran finally throw out the Zealots?

[Gargamel]

Protests in Iran are picking up again, can they do it this time. Executions in 2024 were at an all time high. The economy is the worst it’s been in a long long time. Is this the first good news story of 2026.

[Ridgemont]

Unlikely. The politicians at the top are extraordinarily effecient at destroying any organised resistance as per 2009.
Violence, rape and dissidents being arrested and never being seen again is standard operating practice.

[Yahonza]

Awful place - such an oppressive theocracy.
There will be no Arab spring there, unfortunately.

[Gargamel]

I am not so sure, once you are in the streets openly chanting for the death of the president. Then change is possible.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqj2llkjv8vo

Would be lovely to see Iran lifted out of the medieval mire it’s been in under the zealots.

[Jasandjules]

It will take the kind of revolution we need here.

[DeadShed]

Jasandjules said:

It will take the kind of revolution we need here.

Do you really think Iran is in any way comparable to the UK?

[BikeBikeBIke]

DeadShed said:

Do you really think Iran is in any way comparable to the UK?

Give it 40 years and we will be directly comparable.

[Unreal]

Gargamel said:

I am not so sure, once you are in the streets openly chanting for the death of the president. Then change is possible.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqj2llkjv8vo

Would be lovely to see Iran lifted out of the medieval mire it s been in under the zealots.

I'll predict the regime will fall within a decade but it might need some help. One of those rare situations where I would support intervention.

[Simbu]

The water supply issues in Tehran and other cities is a disaster waiting to happen. Between decades of mismanagement, climate changes and neighbouring countries damming rivers, it is only getting worse. If people are literally dying of thirst, they don't have much to lose in a revolution.

[Biker 1]

I think they'll ride out the water crisis for at least another 2 or 3 years. Rainfall is abundant in the middle east right now.
Will the leadership give up 15th century traditions anytime soon??

[irc]

Unreal said:

I'll predict the regime will fall within a decade but it might need some help. One of those rare situations where I would support intervention.

Which successful foreign imposed regime change would we copy?

Will you sign up to be part of the invading force?

[hidetheelephants]

It can't happen soon enough, whether this year is the year who knows.

[BunkMoreland]

Unreal said:

I'll predict the regime will fall within a decade but it might need some help. One of those rare situations where I would support intervention.

If Trump/West wanted to end the regime they could do it in a weekend.

But you'll stir up a hornets nest in the process. Too many idiots out there in Iran quite like the way Iran is currently run. Any ideas of women getting votes or education is something those people dont want! Its why the Taliban was able to waltz back in with very little resistance in Afghanistan. Lots of Afghans tacitly approve of the Taliban rule

A lot of Iranian men WANT to be in power over Women and girls! They dont want your western infidel ideas of subjection of women being bad!

Plus whoever launched the regime change would be at risk of increased terrorist attacks against their citizens!

The overthrow has to be by the people themselves. AND backed by other countries in the region. Preferably ones with a functioning economy! And who can defend themselves. Saudi probably being the obvious, but I dont know that they care enough.

[Unreal]

irc said:

Unreal said:

I'll predict the regime will fall within a decade but it might need some help. One of those rare situations where I would support intervention.

Which successful foreign imposed regime change would we copy?

Will you sign up to be part of the invading force?

Where are you getting the 'we' from? My guess would be any intervention will be by the US.

[hidetheelephants]

BunkMoreland said:

The overthrow has to be by the people themselves. AND backed by other countries in the region. Preferably ones with a functioning economy! And who can defend themselves. Saudi probably being the obvious, but I dont know that they care enough.

Why in the wide world of sports would wahabi monarchists want a liberal-ish democracy next door?

[rodericb]

Gargamel said:

Protests in Iran are picking up again, can they do it this time. Executions in 2024 were at an all time high. The economy is the worst it s been in a long long time. Is this the first good news story of 2026.

ha ha.

The rains will come, inshallah.....

[paddy1970]

History suggests regimes fall when the security forces fracture, not just when conditions worsen.

[DeadShed]

hidetheelephants said:

BunkMoreland said:

The overthrow has to be by the people themselves. AND backed by other countries in the region. Preferably ones with a functioning economy! And who can defend themselves. Saudi probably being the obvious, but I dont know that they care enough.

Why in the wide world of sports would wahabi monarchists want a liberal-ish democracy next door?

Well, Sunni rule over a Shia population works so well in other countries. Just look at Iraq and Syrian history… oh wait… don’t do that.

[Murph7355]

Unreal said:

Where are you getting the 'we' from? My guess would be any intervention will be by the US.

The point being made is a very good one, and remains.

What would you support the "intervention" doing? Who would be installed instead of the current lot?

You cannot support intervention unless you know the answers to these things. Or you're prepared to learn nothing from history. And with that region particularly, that is a very dangerous choice.

Libya, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan...yake your pick from great examples of where intervention gets you.

[Austin Prefect]

Murph7355 said:

The point being made is a very good one, and remains.

What would you support the "intervention" doing? Who would be installed instead of the current lot?

You cannot support intervention unless you know the answers to these things. Or you're prepared to learn nothing from history. And with that region particularly, that is a very dangerous choice.

Libya, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan...yake your pick from great examples of where intervention gets you.

The problem is that if (EG) the US decides to intervene to change the regime they will be held responsible for whatever the new regime gets up to. But if the current regime remains in place nobody who could have intervened but decided not to is held in any way responsible for what they get up to.