Did the War Against Iran Save the Islamic Republic?

Tuesday, July 07, 2026

Before the U.S.-Israeli war, the Iranian regime appeared to face an existential threat stemming from its violent repression of dissent in January and chronic grievances over corruption and the economy. But now the Islamic Republic is exuding bold confidence.

Posted by lamplighter at 12:30 PM | 4 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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The Islamic Republic is leaning into religious imagery to hone its political messages locally and across the region.

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-- Al Jazeera English (@aljazeera.com) 4:00 PM Â· Jul 5, 2026

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More from the article ...

... Yet the massive participation in the funeral sends a message that is about more than mourning. The Islamic Republic's leaders and commanders survived a 40-day onslaught aimed both at regime change and at decimating Iran's nuclear and missile programs. And they did so just weeks after their own unprecedented crackdown on street protests in January had left thousands dead. That violent repression of dissent, along with widespread corruption and economic mismanagement, had appeared to pose an existential internal threat.

Even as Iran stages a weeklong funeral for its slain leader, the Islamic Republic today is acting with a bold and newfound confidence born of a war that analysts say may have saved the regime from a post-protest erosion of legitimacy. ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-07-07 12:05 AM | Reply

Another view ...

Khamenei funeral signals Iran's defiance and new regional order
www.reuters.com

...Summary
- - - Khamenei's funeral becomes post-war show of defiance

- - - Sea of mourners deliver message that Iran survived

- - - Iran turns survival in war into leverage over Hormuz

- - - Hormuz now drives Tehran's strategy, not nuclear file

- - - Iran uses time, geography, leverage to reshape diplomacy

The funeral of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was more than a national farewell. The sea of mourners in Tehran sent a message to the United States and Israel that their attempt to break the Islamic Republic had failed.

Rather than looking weakened by the war that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, Iran presented itself as defiant, unified and determined to shape what comes next. ...

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-07-07 12:08 AM | Reply

Trump signing the US surrender at Versailles sealed the deal: he encouraged the Iranian opposition, then utterly abandoned them.

"Everything Trump touches dies." Including people unfortunate enough to take him at his worthless word.

He would love to cut a deal but doesn't quite grasp the larger point: the Iranians are out to actually kill him and his.

#3 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-07-07 07:55 AM | Reply

He's an idiot's version of a moron.

#4 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-07-07 11:20 AM | Reply