Falls Back on Old Playbook as Crises Deepen and Protests Erupt 2025

Iran’s Ailing Supreme Leader Falls Back on Old Playbook as Crises Deepen and Protests Erupt

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, is facing mounting internal and external pressures as economic hardship, public discontent, and sporadic protests spread across the country.

In early December, hundreds of women participated in a marathon on Iran’s resort island of Kish without wearing headscarves, openly defying strict dress codes. In another sign of cultural resistance, a band played the song Seven Nation Army on Tehran’s streets, drawing cheering crowds and viral attention online.

More recently, shopkeepers and bazaar traders in several cities protested against the collapsing currency and rising costs of living, chanting slogans against the government. Though still limited, these demonstrations are the largest since the nationwide protests of 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.

Iran is grappling with soaring inflation, unemployment, power shortages, water scarcity, and a rapidly devaluing currency. At the same time, Israel is pressing the United States to take tougher military action against Tehran.

According to analysts, Khamenei is avoiding major decisions and adopting a wait-and-see approach. Mohammad Ali Shabani, editor of Amwaj Media, told CNN that many observers feel there is a leadership vacuum, with no one willing or able to make decisive moves due to the high risks involved.

Reports indicate that during a recent 12-day conflict with Israel, Khamenei remained in a secure underground bunker, highlighting Tehran’s lack of preparedness despite years of military planning. The aftermath has left Iran with weakened defenses, a damaged nuclear program, and a population increasingly disillusioned with decades of leadership.

As crises intensify, ordinary Iranians continue to quietly reclaim public spaces and personal freedoms, signaling growing unrest that the Islamic Republic appears increasingly unable to contain.

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