The army chief, Amir Hatami, gives a speech in front of the students of the Tehran Military Academy, on Jan. 7, 2026. (Credit: Iranian Army Media Office/AFP)
As the protests in Iran have shaken the Islamic Republic, the army now finds itself at a pivotal moment in its history. Long confined to border defense and traditionally only minimally involved in internal security, it is now under pressure from a weakened government, a society in revolt, and the threat of U.S. strikes — which compel it to choose between loyalty to the regime, relative neutrality or even siding with the population.The Iranian army (Artesh) waited until Jan. 10 — nearly two weeks after the uprising began spreading across the country — to issue a statement in a firm tone. It pledged to “monitor enemy movements in the region,” echoing the rhetoric of a conspiracy orchestrated by the United States and Israel, and to “protect national interests, strategic infrastructure and public property.” More on this Iran at an...
As the protests in Iran have shaken the Islamic Republic, the army now finds itself at a pivotal moment in its history. Long confined to border defense and traditionally only minimally involved in internal security, it is now under pressure from a weakened government, a society in revolt, and the threat of U.S. strikes — which compel it to choose between loyalty to the regime, relative neutrality or even siding with the population.The Iranian army (Artesh) waited until Jan. 10 — nearly two weeks after the uprising began spreading across the country — to issue a statement in a firm tone. It pledged to “monitor enemy movements in the region,” echoing the rhetoric of a conspiracy orchestrated by the United States and Israel, and to “protect national interests, strategic infrastructure and public property.” More on this Iran...
