The Current What's next for Iran?
Jan 13, 2026
Fatima Shams, an exiled Iranian scholar and feminist activist, shares firsthand accounts of the heartbreaking silence caused by a brutal crackdown on protests in Iran. She describes this surge in unrest as an 'explosion' triggered by systemic collapse, urging the international community for decisive action. Cameron Bokhari, a strategic forecaster, analyses the U.S.'s potential responses, highlighting the risks of military intervention and the emerging vulnerabilities of the Iranian regime. Will this unrest signal the beginning of a significant change?
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Cut Off During Nationwide Blackout
- Fatima Shams described being cut off from family during a nationwide internet blackout and unable to confirm their safety.
- She called the experience unbearable while activists report large numbers of deaths and arrests amid the shutdown.
Counterterrorism Used To Justify Massacres
- Fatima Shams warned the regime frames mass killings as counterterrorism to justify repression.
- She said that label is the backbone of the state's ability to carry out large-scale violence without accountability.
Protests Reaching A National Tipping Point
- Fatima Shams called the 2026 unrest an 'explosion' where multiple protest waves have converged into a nationwide crisis.
- She argued the regime and society both face dead ends because daily life and basic goods have become impossible.