Iran's internal strife and regional flashpoints
A public hanging in Isfahan masks a regime under pressure, as polls show widespread discontent and a leadership split over retaliation.
Iran's internal strife and regional flashpoints — Two young men involved in protests against the Iranian regime in January were publicly hanged in Isfahan's city square. Residents who gathered at the site clashed with security forces, and eight additional protesters await a similar sentence.[^1] The execution, reported by Maariv, comes amid an unprecedented protest wave in Iranian prisons, where inmates have sewn their lips shut in protest against a surge in executions.[^2] Walla's coverage frames the hangings as a sign of 'strategic distress' rather than strength. A GAMAAN survey of 31,450 Iranians, conducted June 20-27, offers a stark picture of public sentiment: 51% view Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu positively, 40% consider US-Israeli military action a 'humanitarian intervention', and 60% are satisfied the regime was weakened. Only 13% want to live under the Islamic Republic.[^3] The poll, reported by the Jerusalem Post, suggests a population deeply alienated from its rulers. Meanwhile, a fierce dispute has erupted within Iran's leadership. The moderate camp demands allocating about $7 billion from oil sales to revive the economy, while the Revolutionary Guards insist on investing in missile systems, nuclear capabilities, and proxies.[^4] The editor-in-chief of the conservative publication Kayhan, Hossein Shariatmadari, argued that abandoning a retaliatory strike would be seen as weakness.[^5] C14's report on the dispute highlights the tension between military retaliation and economic survival. A US official, however, refuted rumors of understandings with Iran, calling them 'unreasonable'.[^6] Externally, the US and Saudi militaries have struck Iranian-backed militias in Iraq following Iranian strikes on US bases.[^7] Saudi Arabia also intercepted drones launched from Iraq near oil facilities.[^8] Oman has proposed a Hormuz management system with voluntary fees, and diplomats report progress on a temporary shipping deal.[^9] Yet the IRGC's secret commander, Mojtaba Khamenei, reportedly lives surrounded by doubles, underscoring the regime's paranoia.[^10] Construction sites shut down as work accidents mount — Police, together with the Ministries of La