Protests continue into the evening in Rasht, northern Iran

Iran may not be Venezuela, but the Islamic Republic may at its most vulnerable point in its near 50-year existence as pressure builds from the streets, foreign intelligence services and inside the clerical establishment, analysts told Iran International.

The question now confronting Washington is whether Donald Trump will stick to pressure and covert tools or move toward a more dramatic confrontation.

US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a daring, deadly raid over the weekend and launched a surprise attack on Iranian nuclear sites in June.

Drawing on that record, Dr. Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Vice Provost and Dean at Missouri University of Science and Technology and a longtime scholar of Iranian politics, described a president inclined toward targeted operations rather than large deployments.

Trump, he explained, “prefers low risk and no boots on the ground model of a surgical attack.”

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202601072185

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday told reporters that US military attacks on Venezuela and Iran came after they refused sincere efforts by President Donald Trump to reach deals sought by Washington.

With respect to Iran, the president ... tried to have serious interest in a deal with the Iranian regime with respect to their nuclear capabilities," she said.

"They were not interested so operation Midnight Hammer happened which was another remarkable military success under the leadership of this commander in chief."

The June 22 attack on three Iranian nuclear facilities capped off a surprise military campaign launched by Israel after two months of US-Iran talks over its disputed nuclear deal stalled.

A large crowd of protesters was seen moving through the streets during protests in Abadan, in Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran, according to videos sent to Iran International.

The footage shows protesters chanting slogans against the government, including “Death to the dictator” and “Pahlavi will return.”

US Senator Ted Cruz says Iran’s ruling system has been “fatally weakened,” arguing that recent protests and military setbacks have left Tehran more vulnerable than ever.

Speaking to Iran International, Cruz said he supports Iranians protesting against what he described as a “tyrannical” and “theocratic” rule.

"The Ayatollah is a zealot. He is a murderer, and I think the regime is fatally weakened as a consequence of losing the war," he added.

“For a self-proclaimed supreme leader, losing a war to Israel weakens the regime profoundly.”

"I absolutely support the (Iranian) people. They’re rising up against a tyrannical regime, a regime that is theocratic, that is corrupt, that murders and tortures the Iranian people and the American people are cheering for the people of Iran to shake free this yoke of oppression, to have a free and democratic society," Cruz said.

The hawkish Texas lawmaker is close to Trump and is a strong backer of Israel and muscular US military stance in the Middle East.

Protests have roiled Iranian cities since December 28 and 34 demonstrators along with two members of the security forces have died according to US-based rights group HRANA.

Economic grievances sparked the unrest, which quickly transformed into anti-government rallies throughout the country.

"I think the people of Iran want to stand with America," Cruz added. "They want to stand with freedom. They want to stand with the West. And tragically, they have suffered under this radical Islamist regime."

"The Ayatollah is a zealot. He is He is a murderer, and I think the regime is fatally weakened as a consequence of losing the war. Not only did the Ayatollah lose the war," Cruz continued.

Israel launched a surprise military campaign against Iran in June which was capped off by US attacks on three key nuclear facilities. US President Donald Trump said the strikes "obliterated" Iran's atomic program.

"I will say President Trump showed bold leadership. Taking out the Iranian nuclear facilities, very few things would produce greater peace in Iran, across the world than seeing the end to this to radical regime."

Iranian authorities have said legitimate protest against economic hardships will be tolerated but what they have deemed riots will be put down. Iran has quashed with deadly force previous waves of unrest against authorities.