The Iranian regime faces an unprecedented crisis threatening its continued survival. In response, the government has adopted a dual strategy: attempting to mend international relations while implementing repressive domestic policies masked as reforms.
Foreign Policy: Seeking Sanctions Relief
On the international stage, Tehran has been sending repeated signals to Western countries, seeking negotiations to alleviate sanctions and escape isolation. This approach is aimed at restoring the regime’s shaky legitimacy. However, these overtures are seen by many as a tactical move rather than a genuine effort to engage constructively with the global community.
Domestic Policy: Illusions of Reform
Domestically, the regime has temporarily suspended the compulsory hijab law and lifted filters on platforms such as WhatsApp and Google Play. These actions are framed as steps toward reform but appear designed to pacify public anger and create a facade of change. Beneath this veneer, the regime continues its repressive policies, as evidenced by a surge in executions and the passage of restrictive legislation.
A recent resolution by the National Virtual Space Center exemplifies this contradiction. While ostensibly removing filters on popular platforms, the resolution introduces new restrictions under the guise of a “stratified internet.” This move aims to enhance domestic control and counteract the growing threat of societal collapse.
The Role of Pezeshkian and the Internet Clampdown
President Masoud Pezeshkian—who campaigned on promises to oppose the morality police, filtering, and external pressures—has become a key figure in these developments. Despite repeated assurances that his administration was working to remove filtering, actions taken under his leadership tell a different story.
On December 24, the National Virtual Space Center convened its third meeting, announcing the removal of filters on WhatsApp and Google Play. However, an examination of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace’s resolution reveals a darker agenda. The resolution introduces terms like “governable internet” and “stratified internet,” which experts warn could worsen restrictions. Social media users have described these terms as “reactionary, dirty, and inhumane.”
Under this resolution, the removal of filters for public platforms comes at the cost of increased restrictions elsewhere. Internal services are prioritized, users’ activities are monitored, and the sale of VPNs is criminalized. Moreover, platforms like Telegram and Instagram are only accessible through state-controlled channels, raising concerns about privacy and surveillance.
The Broader Context of Repression
Pezeshkian’s actions align with the regime’s broader strategy to tighten its grip on society. This includes measures to control internet access, a key demand of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has repeatedly called for greater regulation of the “uncontrolled” virtual space. Meanwhile, supporters of the so-called reformists hail these measures—along with other minor concessions such as the temporary suspension of the hijab law and the reinstatement of some expelled students and professors—as achievements. Critics, however, argue these are desperate attempts to stave off regime collapse.
Mounting Public Discontent
Public discontent continues to grow, fueled by crises such as energy shortages, air pollution, the devaluation of the national currency, and widespread dissatisfaction. Many Iranians voice their frustrations online, warning that the country is on the brink of new mass protests. These demonstrations, they believe, could lead to the regime’s eventual overthrow.
Acknowledging the Threat of Collapse
Even regime officials have begun to acknowledge the possibility of collapse. Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i recently ordered provincial prosecutors to collaborate with security forces to prevent unrest, citing crises like electricity and gas shortages. Similarly, in a televised interview on December 2, Pezeshkian admitted to the government’s financial struggles and the potential for public dissatisfaction to escalate into a full-blown crisis.
Conclusion
The Iranian regime’s dual strategy of seeking international legitimacy while suppressing domestic dissent is increasingly unsustainable. Temporary concessions and repressive measures may buy time, but they fail to address the underlying causes of public dissatisfaction. As economic hardships deepen and public anger grows, the regime’s survival hangs in the balance, with the specter of mass protests looming ever closer.
Source » irannewsupdate