Turmoil in Iran: Regime Teeters on the Brink

Eighteen days into the ongoing unrest, Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards continue to play a central role in sustaining the country's authoritarian regime. Yet, as the protests show no signs of abating, analysts are detecting worrying signs of strain within the upper echelons of Iran's power structure.

The Revolutionary Guards, a parallel military force that wields immense political and economic influence, have long been the backbone of the Islamic Republic. Their flexible command structure has allowed them to rapidly deploy security forces and quell dissent throughout the country. However, the scale and intensity of the current protests, ignited by the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman detained by the morality police, appear to be testing the limits of the Guards' capabilities.

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According to experts, the Revolutionary Guards are under increasing pressure to maintain order amid the widespread civil unrest. Hossein Dehghan, a former Revolutionary Guard commander and current military adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, acknowledged the strain, stating that the Guards are