Economist Podcasts No middle ground: Iran’s dangerous division
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Jan 29, 2026 
Nick Pelham, Middle East correspondent for The Economist, gives on-the-ground reporting from Iran. He discusses the country’s sharp split into regime supporters and royalist returnists. He describes why protests turned bloodier and the roles — or absences — of key leaders. He assesses the risks of foreign intervention and possible scenarios if Iran’s leadership falls.
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Violence Revealed After Internet Blackout
- The internet blackout hid the true scale of the crackdown until it was lifted.
- Opposition sources claim as many as 30,000 mostly young people have been killed, fueling radicalization.
Country Splits Into Two Camps
- Iranians increasingly describe the situation as a quiet civil war rather than protests.
- Society is fracturing into two camps: the regime and royalists seeking the Shah's return.
Mutual Accusations And Militarisation
- Both regime supporters and royalists favour hierarchical rule and distrust each other.
- Each accuses the other of hiring foreign mercenaries and increasingly talk of arming to win.