Reuters: Iran fears US strike could ignite mass protests, imperil regime “THE WALL OF FEAR HAS COLLAPSED”

Iranian government officials increasingly fear that a potential US strike could trigger renewed protests and possibly lead to their overthrow, according to six current and former officials speaking to Reuters.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was informed that public outrage over the violent suppression of the January protests has reached a level where fear no longer restrains Iranians. Officials reportedly concluded that external pressure, such as a US strike, could embolden protesters.

One official told Reuters that Iran's enemies were aiming to provoke more protests to topple the Islamic Republic, and "unfortunately", there would be more violence if an uprising occurred.

"An attack combined with demonstrations by angry people could lead to a collapse (of the ruling system). That is the main concern among the top officials, and that is what our enemies want," the official added, speaking anonymously like the others contacted for this story due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Multiple sources told Reuters last week that US President Donald Trump is considering options against Iran, including targeted strikes on security forces and leaders to spur protests, even as Israeli and Arab officials warned that air power alone would not topple the clerical rulers.

Any such uprising following a US strike would contrast with the Iranians' response to Israeli and US bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities in June, which did not trigger anti-government demonstrations.

But a former senior moderate official said the situation has shifted since the crackdown in early January: "People are extremely angry," he said, adding that a US attack could prompt Iranians to rise up again. "The wall of fear has collapsed. There is no fear left."

During the early January protests in Iran, witnesses and rights groups reported that security forces used lethal force to suppress demonstrations, leaving thousands dead and many more injured. Tehran blamed the violence on "armed terrorists" linked to Israel and the US

Trump stopped short of following through on threats to intervene, but he has since demanded nuclear concessions from Iran. Both Tehran and Washington have indicated a willingness to resume diplomacy over the long-standing nuclear dispute.

By Jeyhun Aghazada