Ask Onix
Iran's regime stands firm after war and protests
The Islamic Republic remains deeply embedded in Iranian society despite recent conflicts and mass demonstrations, according to accounts from inside the country. Far from collapsing, the government has tightened its grip and intensified repression, leaving many citizens disillusioned.
Voices from Tehran: hope fades amid crackdowns
Sana and Diako, a young middle-class couple in Tehran, represent a segment of Iranian society that once hoped for change. Speaking to the BBC under pseudonyms to avoid retaliation, they described a regime that has only grown more powerful. While Diako clings to optimism, saying, "Things will change," Sana scoffs at the idea. "It's fallen into the hands of the Revolutionary Guards. The country is a mess," she says.
Sana's perspective shifted during the war with the U.S. and Israel. Initially opposed to the conflict, she later celebrated the deaths of key regime figures, believing their removal would weaken the government. But as the war dragged on, her hopes faded. "Everything got worse. And we are left with the Islamic Republic. I am gutted that they won this war."
Repression escalates as war fuels state power
Opposition activists, human rights lawyers, and independent journalists describe a climate of fear. Many believe the regime will intensify its crackdown once the war ends. According to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), over 53,000 people were arrested during anti-regime protests in January 2025, before the war began. Since then, thousands more have been detained.
Executions have surged, with 21 political detainees hanged during the war-the highest number in such a short period in over three decades. Nine were linked to the January protests, 10 to opposition groups, and two accused of spying for Israel.
Prisons become harsher, families divided
Susan, a lawyer working with detainees (whose name has been changed), says prison conditions have deteriorated. "Before the war, harsh treatment was reserved for protest leaders or those armed with Molotov cocktails. Now, it's applied to anyone," she explains. The conflict has also deepened divisions within families. Susan's parents support the regime, while her brother, who opposes it, told her, "Since they want to be martyred, why deny them that right?"
Susan fears the regime will take out its post-war frustrations on prisoners. "I think we're living on borrowed time," she says.
Journalists and activists face existential threats
Independent journalists like Armin (a pseudonym) say reporting on the war now risks accusations of espionage-a charge that carries the death penalty. "Before, we might be accused of a political offense. Now, just reporting facts could mean execution," he says. Armin's focus has shifted from journalism to survival. "Now we're just trying to stay alive-ourselves and our families."
Opposition rallies have vanished from the streets, leaving the regime in unchallenged control. As Armin lies awake at night, he wonders, "What does the future hold? That uncertainty brings terrible anxiety."
Public displays of loyalty mask underlying dissent
While regime supporters stage regular public displays of solidarity, opposition voices have been silenced. The government's dominance over public life-from billboards to television-reinforces its authority, leaving little room for dissent. For many Iranians, the war has only strengthened the regime they once hoped to overthrow.
