In this episode of The Political Dispatch, Tom, Sidd and Lily dive into what may be the most significant moment in Iranian politics since 1979, the nationwide protests that erupted in late December 2025 and the brutal crackdown that followed.

From the closure of Tehran’s Grand Bazaar to coordinated demonstrations across all 31 provinces, the team traces how economic grievances over a collapsing currency and runaway inflation rapidly transformed into open calls for regime change. They explore the striking evolution of protest slogans, from demands for economic relief to chants of “Pahlavi will return”, and what that shift reveals about the shrinking space for reform within the Islamic Republic.

Tom and Sidd place these events in historical context, drawing comparisons to the 1979 revolution, the 2009 Green Movement, and the 2022 Woman Life Freedom protests, while examining the key differences that make this moment distinct. They also unpack the complex geopolitical dynamics at play, Trump’s threats, Israel’s June 2025 strikes, China’s economic lifeline, and Russia’s quiet mediation, before laying out three possible scenarios for what comes next.

As always, the team urges listeners to stay informed but stay sceptical in an information environment shaped by regime propaganda, opposition messaging, and competing geopolitical agendas.

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To get connected with Tom, Lily or Sidd, please find them on Instagram: @sparetom, @lilymott3, and @siddkurapati.

For more information about the show, please find Be the Change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the Change. Media Network.