U.S. Bombardment Weakens Iran, Yet Regime Remains Resilient Amid Domestic Turmoil

Seven months into the conflict, U.S. air strikes have significantly degraded Iran's armed forces, but the Islamic Republic's endurance should not be mistaken for robustness. Economic indicators reveal a crisis: July inflation hit 66%, food costs rose 128% from the previous year, and the rial keeps losing value, while fuel shortages force the government into a dilemma between raising prices and sparking unrest. Factional disputes over fiscal policy and war financing signal growing tension within the ruling elite.

Meanwhile, widespread protests that began in early 2026 persist, and organized resistance networks, notably the National Council of Resistance of Iran and its People’s Mojahedin affiliates, report active cells in Tehran and other cities. The author urges the Trump administration to maintain pressure without expecting military action to create a new government, and to support Iranian democratic forces rather than revert to old diplomatic accommodation.