Dear Friends and Comrades,Today we published a new article on the political economy undergirding the recent protests in Iran and the regime’s violent response. Sociologist Ida Nikou’s analysis in “Governing Crisis–Sanctions, Austerity and Social Unrest in Iran” provides a thorough overview of how the sanctions regime imposed upon Iran has been absorbed into the austerity policies of the Islamic Republic for the benefit of the ruling classes, contributing to the increasingly desperate situation faced by most ordinary Iranians. This context is crucial to understanding the recent wave of demonstrations as well as the interplay between external and internal forces in fueling unrest. Governing Crisis–Sanctions, Austerity and Social Unrest in IranBy Ida NikouOn December 28, 2025, protests erupted across multiple cities in Iran in response to currency collapse and spiraling living costs. It was not the first time Iranian officials have provoked unrest by introducing regressive measures in the name of reform.