The Intelligence from The Economist 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 describes the brutal crackdown and how society has hardened into two polarized camps. He maps shifting leadership roles and the risks of escalation into violence. He assesses the uncertain role foreign intervention might play.
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Binary Polarization After Crackdown
- Iran's recent crackdown has polarized society into two camps: the regime and royalist forces seeking the Shah's restoration.
- That polarization has supplanted moderate reformist voices and shifted aims toward violent confrontation.
Protests Turned More Violent And Radical
- This protest wave is bloodier and more vindictive than past ones, sidelining constitutional reformers.
- Anger has radicalized many into favoring force over peaceful change.
Humiliation Of The Dead Deepens Resentment
- The regime's treatment of the dead has deepened public hatred, including charging families to recover bodies.
- Economic collapse and internet blackouts compound despair and fuel calls for vengeance.