Internal instability in Iran and noises of regime change

In January 2026, protests erupted in Tehran’s historic Grand Bazaar, quickly spreading to other cities across Iran. What might have seemed, at first glance, like another episode of unrest was in fact a historic signal: for the first time since the 1979 revolution, one of the regime’s most loyal institutions openly challenged the state. This was not merely an economic protest; it was a striking expression of frustration with a government that many Iranians feel has long prioritised regional ambitions over domestic welfare, and coercion over reform. The Grand Bazaar has traditionally been a pillar of Iranian economic and political life. Its merchants have long supported the state, providing stability and reinforcing the Islamic Republic’s authority. That this community became […]