Iran’s Regime in Desperate Crackdown Mode as It Braces for a Looming Revolution

Staff Writer5 hours ago
Iran’s Regime in Desperate Crackdown Mode as It Braces for a Looming Revolution
In the aftermath of the recent war and amid deepening

Protesters pack the streets in a city in Iran during the January 2026 uprising
Written by
Safora Sadidi Mohammadi

In the aftermath of the recent war and amid deepening economic collapse, Iran’s clerical dictatorship has launched a sweeping campaign of repression designed to prevent a new wave of protests from emerging.

From prolonged internet shutdowns to executions, mass arrests, and economic coercion, the pattern is clear: suppress dissent before it can organize.

Internet Blackouts and Economic Paralysis
For more than 46 consecutive days, Iran has faced widespread internet disruption and shutdowns, cutting off millions from communication and work. The consequences are severe and measurable.

Hamidreza Ahmadi, a member of the country’s E-Commerce Association, warned that 10 million Iranians depend on international internet access for their livelihoods. He emphasized that this dependence extends far beyond technology firms: “Many economic enterprises are not necessarily digital companies, but they depend vitally on modern communication tools for trade processes.”

With connectivity restricted, “all activities of these units have been disrupted,” affecting a “very large percentage of the country’s economy.”

The impact is visible across sectors. Small businesses have collapsed, freelancers have lost income, and trade operations have stalled. Citizens report paying extremely high costs just to access limited internet through VPNs, often sacrificing basic expenses to stay connected.

In a modern economy, the internet is as essential as electricity. Its removal has effectively paralyzed large parts of Iran’s economic life.

Inflation, Job Loss, and Daily Survival
This digital shutdown comes on top of an already severe economic crisis.

Food inflation has reached 89.9 percent, while inflation in less developed provinces has exceeded 70 percent. Official data shows annual inflation at 50.6 percent, with point-to-point inflation at 71.8 percent, and food prices in some cases rising above 112 percent.

State-linked economic projections warn of worse ahead. One scenario estimates annual inflation could reach 120.5 percent, with point-to-point inflation at 141.3 percent, driven by budget deficits, structural weaknesses, and the costs of war.

For ordinary citizens, these numbers translate into collapse.

A petrochemical worker described the aftermath of industrial disruptions: “This is not unemployment—it is destruction.”

He reported that tens of thousands of workers have lost their jobs, with many more facing layoffs and no clear timeline for recovery.

Small business owners are equally affected. One shopkeeper said: “I’ve put everything on sale with more than 60 percent discount, but still no one buys.”

Another added that banks continue sending legal threats despite his inability to pay debts: “We have no income—where are we supposed to bring the money from?”

Families are now spending long-term savings on daily expenses, abandoning plans for housing or investment just to survive.

Executions and Arrests as Deterrence
As economic pressure grows, the state has intensified judicial repression.

Authorities have declared that legal proceedings are now conducted under wartime conditions, effectively removing standard protections. The head of the judiciary stated: “The judicial system… operates under wartime arrangements, not peacetime rules.”

This escalation has coincided with a sharp rise in executions: more than 2,200 executions were carried out across Iran in 2025, with at least 314 recorded cases in January and 353 in February 2026.

In just three weeks recently, 14 political prisoners were executed, including individuals linked to protest activity. Several others have been sentenced to death for participation in demonstrations in early January 2026.

Those convicted faced charges such as attending protests, chanting slogans, or alleged acts that remain unproven. Reports indicate they were subjected to severe physical and psychological pressure to extract confessions and were denied access to legal counsel.

Arrests have expanded to include individuals accused of selling VPNs, communicating with foreign media, or documenting events. Authorities have also moved to confiscate assets and freeze bank accounts of those labeled as opponents.

The message is explicit: dissent will be met with maximum punishment.

Control Extends into Everyday Life
Repression is not limited to courts—it now shapes daily economic life.

Business owners report being forced to provide goods and services for pro-government gatherings under threat of closure or asset seizure. One described being ordered to supply large quantities of milk and other products: “If you refuse, they threaten to shut you down and confiscate your property.”

This system of coercion places additional strain on already struggling businesses while reinforcing local control.

At the same time, authorities have expanded financial restrictions. Orders have been issued to identify and seize assets belonging to citizens accused of opposing the state, including those living abroad. Property transfers are being blocked, and bank accounts frozen.

Even basic economic security has become conditional.

Militarization and Signs of Internal Strain
Perhaps the most revealing development is the rhetoric emerging from within the system itself.

A state-aligned figure recently called for widespread weapons training, stating: “Media literacy means learning how to assemble and use a rifle.”

He urged both men and women to undergo military training and proposed introducing shooting simulators in public spaces so that teenagers could “understand the sound of gunfire.”

He also acknowledged deep internal divisions and uncertainty about the country’s direction: “We do not know where the country is heading.”

These statements point to a leadership preparing not only for external threats, but for an internal revolt. In light of its failure to resolve the structural crises that fueled nationwide uprisings in 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2026—crises now deepened by the aftermath of the 40-day war—the regime appears to be bracing for a larger, more radical, and more turbulent revolt from a population with little left to lose.

Staff Writer5 hours ago
Arab-Islamic Committee in Defence of Ashraf
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