Writer Arash Azizi said the Iranian regime is afraid of its own people due to widespread discontent within the country [1].

This assessment highlights the internal instability of the Iranian government and the growing gap between the ruling authorities and the general population. As public dissatisfaction increases, the regime's reliance on security measures to maintain control becomes more evident.

Azizi, a contributing writer at The Atlantic, discussed the current atmosphere for those living inside Iran during a recent appearance on ABC News Live [1]. He said the government's fear is a direct result of the volatility and frustration felt by the citizens [1].

According to Azizi, the regime is "afraid of their own people" because there is discontent in the country [1]. This tension suggests that the state views its own population as a primary threat to its continued existence, a dynamic that often leads to increased surveillance and crackdowns on dissent.

While the regime maintains an image of absolute control, Azizi said this projection masks a deep-seated anxiety [1]. The writer's reflections provide a window into the psychological state of the leadership and the lived experience of those residing under its rule [1].

Azizi's commentary emphasizes that the struggle in Iran is not merely political but is rooted in a fundamental breakdown of the social contract between the state and the people [1]. He said the environment is one where the government's survival depends on suppressing the very people it governs [1].

“The Iranian regime is "afraid of their own people" because there is discontent in the country.”

The observations by Arash Azizi suggest that the Iranian government is operating from a position of fragility rather than strength. When a regime perceives its own citizenry as an existential threat, it typically signals that traditional methods of governance have failed, leaving the state to rely almost exclusively on coercion to prevent a widespread uprising.