The fall of Tehran is no longer a foreign crisis
For decades, American policymakers have approached the Islamic Republic primarily through the prism of its nuclear ambitions. Diplomatic initiatives have revolved around centrifuges, uranium enrichment, sanctions and negotiations, as though the principal challenge posed by…
Assessment
This framing shifts the focus from Iran's nuclear program to the internal political dynamics of its regime, specifically the unprecedented public declaration by 66 members of the Assembly of Experts. The move suggests a new phase where domestic clerical opposition to Supreme Leader Khamenei's policies may be more significant than external negotiations. Readers should watch for further escalations from Iranian religious authorities and how this cracks the regime's facade of unity.