The Islamic Republic of Iran may be facing its sternest challenge since sternest challenge since its incorporation in 1979, with mass protests about rising costs, corruption and women’s rights erupting across the nation. This would result in a brutal crackdown from the government with thousands of protesters killed, many more incarcerated.
Stephen Hill asked Emeritus Professor Amin Saikal from the Australian National University whether the Iranian regime will be able to weather the scale of the protests that have indicate wide-scale discontent with the government of the day.
Image: Editorial credit: Eugenio Marongiu / Shutterstock.com
Produced By: Stephen Hill
Featured In Story: Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern, Central Asian and Islamic Studies, Australian National University
First aired on The Wire, Wednesday 4 February 2026