For the first time since 1979, the survival of the Islamic Republic of Iran is being openly questioned. What began as protests over economic collapse, water shortages, and currency devaluation has rapidly transformed into a nationwide uprising demanding the end of clerical rule. As streets fill across more than 100 cities, the question confronting the world is no longer why Iranians are protesting—but whether this regime can survive at all.
Welcome to The Other Side, hosted by Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum, where we examine global power shifts, state collapse, and political turning points with clarity and context. In this episode, Rimamnde Shawulu analyzes the unfolding crisis in Iran, placing current events within historical, geopolitical, and strategic frameworks.
The latest wave of unrest follows a public call by exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, urging coordinated nationwide protests. Reports indicate that the response exceeded expectations, with turnout larger than any demonstrations seen in over a decade. What distinguishes this moment is not only the scale of participation, but the clarity of demands: protesters are no longer negotiating reforms—they are demanding regime change.
The Iranian state has responded in a manner consistent with its historical playbook. Internet connectivity has been sharply curtailed, power outages intensified, and security forces deployed in force. Units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have reportedly taken over crowd control in several cities after police forces were overwhelmed. Gunfire has been reported, alongside mass arrests and disturbing claims of injured protesters being removed from hospitals by security agencies.
At the center of this information war is digital access. As the Iranian government enforced a nationwide blackout, connectivity across major providers collapsed. However, Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, announced free internet access for Iranians who already possess Starlink terminals—raising the possibility that external actors could play a decisive role in sustaining protest coordination.
International reactions remain cautious but consequential. Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump has warned Tehran against large-scale killings, signaling potential repercussions. Meanwhile, speculation has intensified over whether the regime is facing elite fractures—often the decisive factor in authoritarian collapse. While no intelligence service has confirmed large-scale defections, analysts note growing reluctance among rural security units to fire on civilians, many of whom are family members or neighbors.
What makes this moment uniquely dangerous for the Iranian regime is its unprecedented isolation. Since the October 7 conflict, Iran’s regional proxy network has been systematically degraded. Hamas, Hezbollah, and allied forces in Syria—long relied upon to provide manpower and strategic depth—have been weakened or neutralized. For the first time in decades, Tehran faces domestic unrest without reliable external buffers.
Historically, Iran is not an Arab state but a Persian one, with a complex past that included diplomatic and military cooperation with Israel prior to 1979. That relationship ended with the Islamic Revolution, ushering in nearly five decades of ideological confrontation. Today, as protesters challenge clerical authority, Iranians are once again questioning the trajectory imposed by the revolution.
Speculation now ranges from regime collapse to civil war or external intervention. Some reports suggest senior officials are quietly securing exit options for their families abroad. Others draw symbolic parallels to 1979—watching airports closely for signs of an elite departure that could signal the end of an era.
For audiences in Nigeria, Africa, and the Global South, this moment carries profound lessons. Iran’s crisis highlights how economic collapse, digital repression, and security overreach can converge into existential threats for the state. It also underscores how global geopolitics, proxy warfare, and technology increasingly shape domestic revolutions.
This episode of The Other Side does not trade in speculation—it interrogates power, legitimacy, and historical precedent. As events unfold in Tehran, the world may be witnessing one of the most consequential political transitions of the 21st century.
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