7am Will Trump go to war with Iran?
Jan 14, 2026
Trita Parsi, an Iranian-born analyst and executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, shares insights on the volatile situation in Iran. He discusses the dramatic impact of widespread protests, worsened by government crackdowns and internet blackouts. Parsi examines Trump's provocative rhetoric and potential U.S. military responses, along with Iran's capacity to retaliate. He emphasizes the regime's weakened state yet notes its historical resilience amidst turmoil, raising questions about future stability in the region.
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Communications Blackout Hid Massive Killings
- Iran's internet blackout hid the scale of state violence and forced footage out via diasporas' phones.
- Trita Parsi says estimates range from about 1,600 to nearly 2,000 deaths, marking unprecedented repression.
New Protest Dynamics And Unexpected Slogans
- This wave spread faster and mainly occurred at night, with novel slogans including support for the Shah's son.
- Parsi notes these features set the protests apart from past movements like 2009 or 2017.
Regime Blames Foreign Interference
- The regime frames the unrest as driven by foreign actors and even cites alleged foreign orders to violence.
- Parsi says this narrative is standard but now includes public Israeli claims of involvement.