Iran Arrests 100 Protesters as Army Pledges to Protect 'National Interests'

Is Reza Pahlavi Iran's unifying democratic leader, or a foreign-backed threat to the nation's stability and integrity?
Iran Arrests 100 Protesters as Army Pledges to Protect 'National Interests'
Above: Iranians gather while blocking a street during a protest in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 9. Image credit: MAHSA/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Reza Pahlavi has emerged as the most prominent opposition figure capable of unifying Iran's democratic forces during this historic moment of regime vulnerability. His call to action directly mobilized massive protests across over 100 cities, with demonstrators chanting his name alongside demands for freedom, proving his unique ability to galvanize support where no other credible alternative exists. The regime's unprecedented weakness and the people's desperate search for leadership have positioned him as the necessary transitional steward to guide Iran toward democracy.

Establishment-critical narrative

The monarchist slogans heard in protests represent desperation and disgust with the current regime rather than genuine support for Pahlavi's return to power. His coordination with Israeli right-wing figures and armed separatist groups exposes a dangerous foreign-backed agenda that threatens Iran's territorial integrity and risks transforming civil protests into a security crisis. The Iranian people's historical memory of Western betrayal and fear of Syria-style collapse make any U.S.-backed regime change scenario a strategic fantasy doomed to failure.

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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.20.2