Protests are currently erupting across all 31 provinces of Iran, despite government attempts to suppress dissent through internet shutdowns and violent measures. In a rare gesture, the U.S. president has openly supported the Iranian people, cautioning that ongoing repression might trigger U.S. involvement. As Iran grapples with its most significant internal challenge in years, there’s a pressing need for the U.S. to combine strong words with actionable support to help the Iranian people transform their fear into substantial pressure on the regime.
What began as protests over economic difficulties faced by shopkeepers in Tehran has rapidly expanded into a nationwide call for the ousting of the Ayatollah.
Meanwhile, the Iranian regime continues to propagate its Islamic revolution, all while international sanctions have plummeted the value of the rial to unprecedented lows. The nation is also enduring its worst drought in four decades. With many Iranians struggling to afford food and access clean water, demonstrations have flared since December 28, 2025, fueled by discontent over the squandered resources.
Underlying current tensions are the events surrounding the murder of Mahsa Amini in 2022, which ignited global protests advocating for “Women, Life, Freedom.” The regime has intensified its crackdown on perceived threats, including minorities and individuals suspected of violating Sharia law.
Iran’s radical leadership, together with its network of militant allies, remains a major source of instability in the Middle East.
Since 1979, Iran and its terrorist affiliates in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and the Palestinian territories have posed risks to Americans and allies through terrorist actions and conflict, adversely impacting regional economic development and human wellbeing. For instance, Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted both trade and oil activities in the Arabian Peninsula, while Iranian-backed groups have caused fatalities among U.S. personnel in the region.
As Iran forges ahead with its nuclear aspirations, accumulating over 2,500 ballistic missiles, it is simultaneously ruining its economy and depriving its citizens of essential resources.
Amidst escalating nationwide unrest, an exiled Iranian crown prince has claimed that the regime is close to collapse.
Iran is battling to maintain control domestically, all while relying on support from Russia and China in its politically isolated situation due to sanctions. The regime sells oil cheaply to China and illegally supplies weapons to Russia. In return, these countries offer political and military backing to Iran, facilitating the evasion of sanctions and promoting anti-Western ideologies that aim to undermine U.S. influence.
In light of the regime’s compromised position, it’s crucial for the U.S. and its allies to devise a comprehensive strategy—learning from the 1953 U.S.-backed coup—to extinguish the Ayatollah’s influence while assisting the Iranian populace in accelerating the regime’s downfall.
A potential starting point could be establishing a new State Department initiative, aimed at providing Iranians access to secure virtual private networks (VPNs). Significant portions of the population—around 86%—use VPNs to bypass government censorship and surveillance. Enhanced access to secure VPNs during internet disruptions could enable protesters to organize and voice their dissent more safely, decreasing the risk of their communications being monitored.
The U.S. should also push its partners to impose sanctions on Chinese firms that supply sophisticated surveillance technology to Iran, complicating the regime’s access to such tools. Although some American companies have already faced sanctions, numerous U.S. allies continue to engage with these suppliers. A recommendation to bar cooperation with certain companies was made by the European Commission in 2020, but has yet to be enacted.
To mitigate government surveillance and harassment of demonstrators, it might be beneficial for the U.S. and its partners to leverage existing cyber capabilities to disrupt Iran’s surveillance apparatus. This could involve targeting the surveillance camera network, sabotaging efforts to establish a National Intelligence Network that monitors internet traffic, and dismantling databases that store personal information of citizens collected for spying and blackmailing purposes.
Additionally, the U.S. and its allies should consider developing asymmetric military operations plans in anticipation of potential conflict with Iran. Diverging from previous U.S. administrations, which avoided engagement with the 2009 Green Movement, it’s crucial for current leadership to recognize threats from the regime and to identify strategic targets that suppress freedom of expression and violate human rights.
A thoughtful and comprehensive approach could assist the Iranian people in their longstanding quest for freedom, ultimately contributing to a more stable Middle East.
