Three days into “Operation Epic Fury,” the headlines say war—but the strategy remains unclear. In a deep analysis with Iran expert Alex Vatanka, we explore why Iranians aren’t revolting, how Tehran is playing the long game, and what real success in this conflict would even look like. The military picture may be evolving, but the political and human dynamics will determine what comes next.

The U.S. sees an Iran that should surrender. Khamenei sees surrender as a path to regime collapse. Wikistrat's latest webinar with Dr. Raz Zimmt unpacks the collision of worldviews driving the crisis toward military confrontation, and what a U.S. strike would mean for the regime, the opposition, Hezbollah, and the Gulf states.

The January 2026 protests followed a familiar cycle: crowds in the streets, a brutal crackdown, an internet blackout, then quiet. Wikistrat's latest report explores why Iran's opposition remains unable to convert deep public anger into lasting political leverage.