Avi Benlolo: What happens next in Iran could change the face of the Middle East

It appears Iranians have had enough of the terrorist regime that rules their lives. After nearly two consecutive weeks of protests, and the murder of over 30 people by the Mullah’s henchmen, videos circulating widely on X show that Iranians are still marching in the streets, more intent and with vigour. By the time this article finds its way to print, the Ayatollah may be in Moscow having Turkish coffee with Bashar Assad.

Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad wrote that despite bullets, tear gas and brutal repression, “people are still in the streets across Iran. The protests are growing. Their resistance sends a clear message to the world: Iranians reject this child-killing terrorist regime. They don’t want those killers.”

Caution to the wise. There have been many protests since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran. The last major series that took place from 2022 to 2023 were also serious enough for optimists to believe that this evil regime would fall. They began when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died after being taken into custody after removing her headscarf — shirking the mandatory hijab rules.

“Women, Life, Freedom” became these protesters’ rallying cry to resist the oppression. But that was then. This is now. Layer after layer of frustration with this brutal regime has since mounted. The doubling of executions in Iran in 2025 to 1,500 people showcases the fear and fragility of a regime that is near its end. Continuing to sow fear and despair among its population, Iran said it executed an alleged Israeli spy this week.

That fear is evident even now as Iran’s top judge is said to have warned protesters there would be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic.” Even Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed not to “yield to the enemy.” Rather than admitting economic, military and social defeat, the regime is now accusing Israel and the United States of colluding to disrupt the country.

In 1979, an Islamic regime came to power by force, turning a promising country of smart, educated people into one of the most despised nations on earth. Its radical religious leaders rejected western influence and collaboration, and instead, turned to becoming the leading state sponsor of terror. One of its first international acts of terrorism was the 1992 bombing of an Israeli embassy and the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community centre, both in Buenos Aires.

The Iranian people have had enough, and they are marching relentlessly. Israel’s 12-day war against Iran this summer exposed the Islamic Republic as a paper tiger. Its relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons and threats to wipe Israel off the face of the map, and its financing of terror proxies including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and of course, Hamas, have not only sapped Iran financially, inviting sanctions and making its currency worthless, but it has alienated what was once a proud nation, turning it into a pariah state.

It must be frustrating for Khamenei and friends to watch their planned Islamic takeover of the world go up in smoke. Most of their allies are gone, including Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro. Just a few days ago, Khamenei felt compelled to remind his followers on X about his planned world domination: “The issue is confronting the unjust order of the domination system in today’s world, and turning toward a just Islamic national and international order. This is the great claim whose banner the Islamic Iran has raised, and this has enraged corrupt and corrupting coercive powers.” But now he is reportedly planning to flee to Moscow if Iranians sufficiently demonstrate that they’ve had enough of his brutality.

Who will fill the vacuum in Iran? Let’s hope it is someone like Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran who says he wants peace with Israel and America. He says Iran faces a historic moment: “In all these years, I’ve never seen an opportunity as we see today in Iran. Iranian people are more than ever committed to bringing an end to this regime, as the world has witnessed the last few days. The levels of demonstrations are unprecedented in Iran — over 100 cities, millions of people in the streets chanting ‘death to the dictator’ and ‘end to this regime.’ By God, it is about time that Iran gets its opportunity to free itself from a tyrannical regime.”

What happens next in Iran could change the face of the Middle East. I pray and hope the day that regime change finally comes, its new leaders choose the path of peace with Israel and America, so we can focus on advancing humanity together.

National Post

Avi Abraham Benlolo is the chairman and CEO of The Abraham Global Peace Initiative.