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502: Iranian Regime Massacres Protesters, Will Trump Respond?

76 snips
Jan 14, 2026
Jason Rezaian, the Director of Press Freedom Initiatives at The Washington Post, shares his gripping insights as a former political prisoner in Iran. He discusses the severe crackdown on recent protests and stresses the importance of internet access for Iranian citizens. Rezaian cautions against foreign military interventions, highlighting the risks to civilians, and contemplates potential leadership in a post-regime Iran. His experiences reveal a deep connection to the struggles faced by journalists and the Iranian people, advocating for diplomacy and press freedom.
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INSIGHT

Protests Are Nationwide And Deeply Rooted

  • The Iran protests are broad-based, driven by economic collapse and corruption rather than a single issue.
  • Their diffusion across provinces makes this wave a more plausible threat to the regime than past urban-led protests.
INSIGHT

Bombing Can Break Regimes But Not Build Futures

  • Military strikes can break regime capacity but rarely engineer a stable political replacement.
  • Bombing risks massive civilian casualties and creates a power vacuum with unpredictable outcomes.
INSIGHT

No Clear Successor Inside Or Out

  • There is no ready-made successor to Iran's regime, and elites are widely distributed across institutions.
  • Any collapse risks military or factional takeover rather than an immediate democratic transition.
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