ISW forecasts new mass unrest in Iran
Photo: protests may erupt in Iran (Getty Images)
The Iranian regime has intensified its persecution of minorities in the country over alleged disloyalty, which may spark new mass unrest, according to a report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
According to analysts, the ongoing persecution will almost certainly intensify existing anti-regime sentiments in Iran.
Since the start of the 12-day war with Israel, more than 700 people have been arrested in Iran on espionage charges. Among them were several individuals the Ayatollah regime labeled as Mossad spies.
Intelligence agents have carried out dozens of coordinated raids across the country, targeting members of the Baháʼí religious minority. As a result, electronic devices, personal belongings, and religious materials were confiscated.
"Baha'i members have frequently been accused of espionage and anti-regime activities. Iran‘s aggressive targeting of minorities for perceived disloyalty may not act as the proximate trigger for major protests, but it will contribute to frustrations that could explode into mass protests," ISW wrote.
Mass protests in Iran
Iran was shaken by mass protests and riots in 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman detained by the morality police for allegedly violating hijab regulations.
She died on September 16 in a hospital after falling into a coma following her arrest. The protests erupted nationwide on the day of her funeral.
Hundreds of people were killed during the demonstrations, and Iranian authorities launched a brutal crackdown. In November of the same year, the first death sentence against a protester was handed down.
In June 2025, during the 12-day war with Israel, footage of protests, along with a call for citizens to take to the streets, was broadcast on Iranian state television, an apparent act of sabotage.
