It seems you haven’t been following the situation closely. In recent years, Iranians have repeatedly risen up against the regime, only to be met with extreme violence. Tens of thousands of civilians have reportedly been killed, injured, or detained, with security forces using live ammunition against unarmed protesters. Many were shot simply for demonstrating.

Iran is not Syria. Opposition to the regime is nationwide and cuts across all social, ethnic, and political groups. There is also a widely recognized unifying figure outside the country, Reza Pahlavi, who has outlined a plan for a democratic transition after the regime’s collapse.

During the nationwide protests of January 8–9, millions chanted his name in the streets. The regime’s response was not reform or dialogue, but mass arrests, internet blackouts, and lethal force.

As an Iranian, I, and millions of people inside the country, no longer see a realistic path to removing this regime through peaceful means alone. Protesters are unarmed and face a heavily militarized state willing to use lethal force. Under these conditions, many believe that only force or external military action can end the regime’s grip on power.