Daijiworld Media Network- Tehran

Tehran, Jun 20: As the Islamic Republic of Iran finds itself under mounting external military pressure and internal strain, many had expected the country’s long-standing opposition forces to seize the moment. Yet, from within Iran’s borders, a resounding silence continues to prevail — and not without reason.

While exiled opposition groups and diaspora-based figures urge Iranians to take to the streets, seasoned activists and citizens, many of whom were central to the Mahsa Amini protests of 2022, say the ground reality is far too dangerous for mass demonstrations. Amid fears of fresh airstrikes and a sense of national emergency, even those with strong anti-regime sentiments are holding back.

Prominent activist Atena Daemi, who endured six years of imprisonment for her role in prior protests, stated candidly, “In such horrifying circumstances, people are focused on saving their families, not protesting.” Her sentiment is echoed across the activist community, who say the trauma of past crackdowns, coupled with the immediate threat of war, is enough to keep even the most defiant voices indoors.

Even Nobel laureate and human rights icon Narges Mohammadi weighed in, expressing concern about foreign calls for evacuation of Tehran. “Do not destroy my city,” she posted on social media, criticizing the external players fueling tensions.

The irony is stark — as Iranian cities brace for Israeli airstrikes, internal dissent remains subdued not due to loyalty to the regime, but due to sheer fear and exhaustion. A student protester from Shiraz, who once marched after Mahsa Amini’s death, told Reuters she now sees no option but to wait. “We’ll raise our voices after the strikes end. Right now, survival comes first.”

Meanwhile, calls from exiled leaders like Reza Pahlavi, son of the late Shah, have failed to find significant traction within Iran. “Israel and those so-called opposition leaders abroad only think about their own benefits,” another former protester said, dismissing what she described as opportunistic rhetoric.

Other prominent factions like the People’s Mujahideen of Iran (MEK) also remain polarizing. While active outside the country, their historic ties to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war and allegations of cult-like practices have tainted their reputation among many inside Iran.

Despite this, dissent remains simmering under the surface. Iran’s Basij militia — often deployed to suppress protests — has reportedly been placed on alert. The regime appears braced for unrest, even if none is currently visible.

The repeated cycles of protest in 2009, 2017, and 2022, each sparked by unique national grievances, reveal a fractured opposition with no unified leader, agenda, or timing. The question now is not whether the will to resist exists, but whether it can safely and effectively mobilize amid bombs and blackouts.

As Israel continues its campaign against Iran’s strategic assets, and the world watches anxiously, the Iranian people remain trapped between fear of foreign firepower and disillusionment with their own rulers — their voice muted, for now, by survival.