Reuters: Iranian Authorities In Panic

• 3.02.2026, 15:06

A U.S. strike could lead to the collapse of the ayatollahs' regime.

Iranian authorities are increasingly concerned that a possible U.S. strike on the country could lead to renewed mass protests and regime collapse, several current and former Iranian officials told Reuters. They said they reported to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at a recent meeting that public dissatisfaction with the brutality with which recent protests have been suppressed has reached a point where fear is no longer a deterrent for Iranians. Authorities in the Islamic republic have concluded that external pressure, such as a U.S. strike, would embolden protesters, the Reuters interlocutors said.

"People are extremely outraged. The wall of fear has fallen. There is no more fear," a former senior official assessed the situation. Other agency sources also noted that the new protests could be more violent because of the crackdown on past demonstrations. According to them, the protesters will realize that they have nothing more to lose. At the same time, a serving Iranian official warned that there would "unfortunately" be more violence in the event of an uprising in the country. "A [U.S.] attack combined with demonstrations by an angry population could lead to the collapse [of the ruling regime]. This is a major concern for the supreme officials, and this is what our enemies want," the official explained.

Few opposition politicians who used to be part of Iran's political elite have also warned authorities that the "boiling rage of the people" threatens to destroy the regime. "The river of hot blood spilled in the cold January will not stop boiling until it changes the course of history. <�...> In what language should the people say they no longer want this system and don't believe your lies? Enough is enough. The game is over," said former prime minister Mirhossein Mousavi, who has remained under house arrest since 2011.