Tensions in Iran are escalating as widespread discontent over public executions, economic hardship, and ongoing conflict fuels anticipation of renewed protests, according to anti-government activists inside the country.
Two Iranians involved in opposition activities, speaking through encrypted communication tools, described a nation edging toward a potential uprising. They cited the brutal crackdown on demonstrations in January, which former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed resulted in the deaths of 52,000 people, as a pivotal event leaving deep scars within Iranian society.
“We’re preparing for another uprising,” said a journalist active in the Iranian underground, explaining that opposition groups are carefully analyzing the January protests to understand which strategies succeeded and which did not. They are mapping safe zones and riskier areas for assembling gatherings while stockpiling makeshift weapons such as bricks, wooden clubs, and tires to barricade streets.
A protest leader described the violence faced by demonstrators in January, noting the overwhelming force used by Basij paramilitary units. “When we went out, we were like lambs to the slaughter,” the activist said, recounting scenes of bloodshed and loss on the streets. The protesters warn that future demonstrations will include armed resistance if repression continues.
The legacy of the January crackdown, which left thousands dead and many families grieving, is cited as the main reason a broad uprising has yet to materialize. “Everyone has lost somebody,” one protester said, highlighting the pervasive trauma now felt across Iranian communities.
Additional grievances are compounding the unrest. The ongoing war and uncertainty over U.S. actions against Iran’s regime and assets contribute to a climate of instability. Economic difficulties, including soaring inflation and shortages of electricity and water—particularly in southern Iran—further exacerbate public anger toward the ruling clerical establishment.
Recent protests in Isfahan have underscored growing discontent, with reports of up to 2,000 people rallying against the execution of anti-government figures Abolfazep Sipahi Badjani and Amir Hossein Safari Hosseinabadi.
Neither of the opposition sources could specify when a widespread revolt might occur but emphasized that continued executions, repression, and economic decline could ignite unrest at any time. They described the situation as volatile, with the potential for a single event to trigger a larger national confrontation with the regime.