‘Wall of fear has fallen’ in Iran

Iranian authorities fear that a potential U.S. strike could trigger the collapse of the regime amid a new wave of mass protests, Reuters reported, citing current and former Iranian officials.

According to the sources, Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei has been informed that public anger over the harsh crackdown on January protests has reached a critical level. Officials say fear, long a key deterrent, is no longer restraining the population.

Sources told Reuters that external pressure — particularly a possible U.S. military action — could further embolden protesters.

“People are extremely angry. The wall of fear has fallen. There is no fear anymore,” a former senior official with moderate views said.

Six sources said any new protests could be far more intense than previous ones, as many participants feel they have nothing left to lose.

Another Iranian official said Tehran’s adversaries are counting on such a scenario — mass unrest that could lead to the collapse of Khamenei’s rule. He warned that the combination of an external strike and street protests could sharply increase violence and destabilise the country.

Several opposition figures who were once part of Iran’s ruling elite have also warned of rising public anger. Former prime minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi, under house arrest since 2011, said that “spilled blood will not cool until it changes the course of history”.