Amanpour Iranian Protests Spur Government Backlash
Jan 12, 2026
Abbas Milani, a Stanford Iranian studies director and former political prisoner, discusses the current protests in Iran, emphasizing the regime's loss of legitimacy and impending uprisings if governance falters. He suggests strategies like diplomatic isolation to pressure the government. Ben Markovits, a British-American novelist, dives into his Booker Prize-nominated work, exploring themes of aging and emotional turmoil through a character's journey. He shares personal parallels between his cancer experience and his protagonist's life.
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Regime Legitimacy Has Collapsed
- The Iranian regime has hollowed itself through corruption, incompetence, and dogmatism, eroding fear and legitimacy.
- Abbas Milani argues this loss of fear makes current unrest existential for the Islamic Republic.
Repression Won't Solve Core Failures
- Milani says violent repression cannot permanently restore control because incompetence and economic failure fuel recurring uprisings.
- He warns quiet today would likely mean a larger, later uprising if core problems remain unresolved.
Isolate And Freeze Regime Assets
- Milani urges Western governments to diplomatically isolate Iran and freeze regime and oligarch assets worldwide.
- He also calls for closure of Iranian diplomatic offices tied to malign activities.
