Iran’s modern history reflects a state navigating regional tensions, balancing internal challenges with external threats.

In the 1950s, Iran nationalized its oil to protect it from U.S. and British control. In response, the U.S. and U.K. orchestrated a coup, and the country’s fledgling democracy was removed, replaced by the Shah, a dictator backed by the West. Decades of corruption and pro-Western policies fueled widespread anger, leading to the 1979 revolution. The new government emphasized independence and resistance to foreign influence, particularly against the U.S.

Soon after, Iran faced the eight-year war with Iraq. Saddam Hussein invaded, while the U.S. covertly supported him. Millions died, and Iran’s military and distrust of the West hardened. In the following decades, Iran built militias and covert networks across the Middle East, often targeting Israel — a state it views as aligned with U.S. regional interests and influence — culminating in the October 7th terrorist attack. As part of the response, in 2025, Israel and the U.S. bombed Iranian military and nuclear sites.

Iran has long restricted civil liberties, limiting freedom of speech, assembly, and political dissent, often using force to suppress protests and opposition. At the same time, it has supported armed groups, including Hezbollah and Palestinian factions, that carry out attacks against Israel, forming a key part of its regional strategy.

In December 2025, a Western-led economic campaign sought to cripple the Iranian economy, sparking widespread protests and riots. According to reports, Iran claims foreign actors, including the CIA and Mossad, are using imported Starlink terminals to incite violence, while Russia is reported to have assisted in jamming these networks.

To put the scale of the unrest into perspective, the current protests have reportedly resulted in over 2,500 deaths, ranking them among the deadliest civil disturbances in recent decades. By comparison, approximately 2,996 people died in the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, 1,200–1,300 in the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel, 241–3,000 in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, and 100–110 during Ukraine’s Maidan protests.

A quick read of the history shows Iran has a pretty solid precedence for murdering their own people in Mass.

The changed variables seem to be an increase in US and Israeli interest in further hamstringing Iran. And also the ability for the Iranian people to get the message out through new technologies.

As for the US course of action I think we should just keep observing. Let their own people do the damage for for once.

Without outside intervention though I don't think that Iranian regime* can hold on to the reigns much longer. Assuming they're looking for an assist from their allies

This post was edited by RedFromWinter on Jan 15 2026 06:55am

A minor point - the outside intervention you are referring to here is aid/support/intervention from Russia and China (noting the assumed outside intervention, in Iran, would be the US, which clearly wants regime change).

If mass protests erupted in the U.S. with thousands killed, we wouldn’t accept Russia or China threatening airstrikes on New York to stop executions. That asymmetry suggests this isn’t really about humanitarian concern, but about exploiting instability in a state labeled the enemy. Trump's demand is very unusual. There are a lot of things we simply do not know yet.

This post was edited by ferdia on Jan 15 2026 07:15am

Don't forget June 2025

US bunker busters were first rapidly developed and deployed during the 1991 Gulf War with the laser-guided GBU-28, using old artillery barrels, while the massive GBU-57 MOP saw its first combat use much later in June 2025 against Iranian nuclear sites.

So the only country that bombed people with atomic bombs.
The country with 43% of all atomic bombs on earth.
Deploys its newest weapons of mass destruction on a country because they are suspected of making nuclear weapons.

By outside intervention could be Western Nations or the ones you mentioned that are allies. Point was they can't hold the ship on their own.

So yeah based on that premise of Iran can't hold the ship together the US can hold their ship together. Might look like chaos on US decks but the bilge pumps are running well. Iran sinking

This post was edited by RedFromWinter on Jan 15 2026 07:18am

God bless that bomber crew.

its in the first post - "As part of the response, in 2025, Israel and the U.S. bombed Iranian military and nuclear sites." I was trying to keep the 1st post short but accept that elements of it will be discussed in detail.

sorry for double post, just responding methodically -



it cant be western nations, noting western nations are mulling over increasing the sanctions - which would destabilize Iran even more. Your statement was:

"Without outside intervention though I don't think that Iranian regime can hold on to the reigns much longer."

I had to treat your statement as math - i.e.

With outside intervention though I think that Iranian regime can hold on to the reigns much longer. <-- the west does not want Iran to hold on, ergo intervention (positive for the government anyway) would be from the likes of Russia/China, unless you argue that the West is supporting Iran against the US and Israel? There is no basis for this argument though.

This post was edited by ferdia on Jan 15 2026 07:30am

Prime example of what religious extremism leads to
Evangelicals watch out!

This post was edited by Sankturio on Jan 15 2026 07:32am

We have not touched on Religious extremism at all, even in the Israeli thread it was never really touched on. probably worth while discussing that here.