Dr Seyed Emamian, Assistant Professor at Tehran Polytechnic University and a founding partner of a Tehran-based governance think tank, says Iran’s recent unrest unfolded in two distinct phases: peaceful economic protests followed by what he describes as a sudden, coordinated terrorist escalation.
According to Emamian, demonstrations that began roughly two weeks earlier were largely non-violent and driven by public frustration over economic mismanagement and the sharp devaluation of Iran’s currency under renewed US sanctions linked to former US President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy.
That dynamic, he argues, changed abruptly on Thursday night, the eighth day of protests. Emamian describes the events as an “Iranian 9/11” for the country’s security establishment, alleging that small, well-trained groups infiltrated demonstrations and carried out highly organised attacks. He claims Iranian officials believe some attackers were linked to Israel’s intelligence service, Mossad.
“These were ISIS-style operations,” Emamian said, citing attacks on security personnel, firefighters, healthcare workers, ambulances, buses, and private property. He added that several civilians, including peaceful demonstrators, were killed during the violence.
Emamian said Iranian security forces, initially unarmed to avoid confrontation with protesters, regained control within hours. He described Tehran as calm by early Friday morning and said street life across major cities has since returned largely to normal, though internet access remains restricted.
He rejected Western media reports suggesting casualty figures in the thousands, saying no official number has been released. Based on information circulating in Iran, he claimed most of the dead were civilians or public servants, with a smaller proportion allegedly linked to armed groups.
Politically, Emamian framed the violence as part of a broader confrontation following last year’s brief military clash between Iran and Israel. Economically, he said public pressure for reforms remains legitimate, urging the government to improve governance even as it prioritises national security.
