‘Explosive’ situation: Iran protests could lead to wider regional implications, says analyst

0 January 12, 2026 07:22

Nationwide protests in Iran, driven by a worsening economy and deep public frustration, are piling fresh pressure on the country’s theocratic leadership. As authorities shut down internet and telephone networks in an effort to contain the unrest, analysts warn the stakes are rising – not just for Iran, but for the wider Middle East. Amin Saikal, an adjunct senior fellow at the Nanyang Technological University’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, discusses how Iran’s nuclear programme and threats from the United States complicate the crisis. He also tells CNA’s Asia Now why further destabilisation could ripple across an already fragile region.

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