On The Record On Iran's Protests
Jan 12, 2026
Vali R. Nasr, an expert on Iranian politics, Ray Takeyh from the Council on Foreign Relations, and Sanam Vakil from Chatham House discuss Iran's widespread protests. They delve into the regime's brutal crackdowns and internet blackouts affecting communication. Insights into the historical context of protests reveal a cycle of dissent that complicates U.S. policy. The panel also tackles the implications of potential military interventions and the intricate web of regional dynamics. With voices starting to rise against oppressive governance, questions about future leadership and national unity loom large.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Scale, Crackdown, And The Shadow Of War
- Protests since January 8th have been unusually large, intense, and met with a brutal crackdown amid an internet blackout.
- The unrest occurs while Iran is weakened internationally after the June war, adding an unpredictable shadow of potential external intervention.
Cross-Class Protests With Cyclical Momentum
- Protests cut across social classes but haven't yet convinced fence-sitters to join and aren't a unified national movement.
- Heavy repression creates martyrs and guarantees renewed cycles of protest because underlying grievances remain unresolved.
Blackout, Misinformation, And Enemy Framing
- The blackout forces information to trickle out via Starlink and creates verification challenges amid misinformation.
- The regime rebranded protesters as terrorists and foreign agents, escalating the conflict framing to justify brutal force.