The Take Iran, Trump, and the deadliest crackdown on protests yet
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Jan 13, 2026 Negar Mortazavi, a Senior Fellow at the Center for International Policy and host of The Iran Podcast, offers critical insights into the escalating protests in Iran. She discusses how these protests, initially sparked by economic concerns, have morphed into calls for systemic change amid a deadly crackdown. Mortazavi examines the implications of U.S. military rhetoric under Trump and how Iranians perceive this intervention. With a focus on historical U.S.-Iran relations and the potential for regional fallout, she provides a nuanced look at a volatile situation.
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Diplomacy Was A Brief Detente
- The 2015–16 JCPOA was a rare moment of diplomacy that briefly eased pressure on Iranians.
- Subsequent U.S. policy shifts, notably Trump's withdrawal and reimposition of sanctions, reversed those gains and escalated tensions.
Economic Grievances Turned Into Systemic Challenge
- Iran's current protests began over economic grievances but quickly broadened into a direct challenge to the whole political system.
- The recent crackdown appears deadlier than past protests and protesters are targeting the system's core.
Contradictory U.S. Messaging Raises Mistrust
- President Trump's messaging mixes offers of diplomacy with explicit military threats, creating deep uncertainty.
- That unpredictable combination is taken very seriously in Tehran and raises mistrust about U.S. intentions.