Iran’s regime is increasingly forced to defend itself at home – opinion

Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) are increasingly focusing resources on domestic security due to growing internal threats, according to a UAE political analyst. This shift is evidenced by a significant August reshuffle of military and security leadership, including the return of Hossein Taeb to lead the Basij paramilitary force, which is crucial for suppressing dissent. The regime faces the possibility of new protests, as indicated by a leaked recording discussing social unrest and the need for expanded surveillance. Executions for national security charges have risen, with at least 56 people executed since March 19, including 27 related to protests, prompting international condemnation. Additionally, armed resistance is escalating in peripheral areas like Kurdistan and Balochistan, where the People's Fighters Front, a newly merged armed structure, has claimed attacks against security forces. This internal pressure is depleting the IRGC's capacity for external operations, reversing its long-standing strategy of projecting power abroad to ensure domestic stability.