Iran's Protests Are Colliding With Something Much Bigger - The Global Gambit - Pyotr Kurzin

Iran continues to enter a hugely dangerous and uncertain phase as protests erupt.

Economic collapse, a collapsing currency, and widening protests are converging with a radically different geopolitical environment. Demonstrations are spreading beyond Tehran and into city centers across the country, drawing in merchants, students, workers, and ethnic minorities. What began as economic frustration is increasingly becoming a direct challenge to the system itself.

This wave of unrest is different from 2022. Then, the regime’s moral authority was shattered. Now, its economic foundations are under threat — at a moment when external buffers, regional depth, and elite confidence have all been eroded. Protesters are no longer calling for reform. They are questioning whether the Islamic Republic can continue to govern at all.

In this video, I break down what’s actually driving Iran’s unrest, how it compares to previous protest movements, and why the center of gravity has shifted toward regime change. I examine the growing role of Reza Pahlavi as a coordination figure, the regime’s familiar playbook of repression and deflection, and why that strategy may be far less effective this time.

Crucially, all of this is unfolding under far harsher geopolitical conditions. Iran is facing intensified economic pressure, a weakened regional position after recent conflicts, a degraded proxy network, and renewed unpredictability from Washington. Together, these forces are forming a perfect storm the regime has not faced in this configuration before.

This isn’t about headlines. It’s about whether Iran is entering a new phase — and what comes next if the regime can no longer rely on fear to maintain control.