By Pishtaz | 2026-02-15

The Islamic Republic’s violent response to recent nationwide protests has triggered a wave of ideological friction within its security institutions.

While authorities demand absolute loyalty, relentless orders to suppress civilian demonstrators are increasingly fracturing the internal cohesion of security forces.

Reports indicate rising discontent within the Islamic Republic’s armed forces, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), over their role in the brutal crackdown.

Some Iranian military personnel have reportedly expressed open dissatisfaction with orders to kill civilians, reflecting a rare but notable breakdown in internal cohesion.

One IRGC member in Tehran is reported to have resigned in protest, underscoring the moral strain imposed by the crackdown.

These accounts suggest unprecedented violence has had a profound psychological impact on rank-and-file forces, including those whose family members joined protests.

Psychological collapse

Beyond isolated resignations, some police officers and IRGC personnel are reportedly approaching psychological collapse under the pressure of sustained violence.

Security personnel have described severe depression, emotional shock, and growing inability to justify their actions to families and communities affected by the repression.

A police officer speaking under heavy restrictions described colleagues struggling to reconcile orders to kill civilians with personal conscience and family realities.

For many officers, the realization that victims include neighbors or relatives has intensified internal conflict and emotional distress.

This moral dissonance has fueled dissatisfaction and internal tension, weakening trust between commanders and ordinary personnel tasked with enforcing violent orders.

The Islamic Republic’s crackdown has relied on live ammunition, tear gas, and mass arrests across cities nationwide, leaving lasting psychological scars.

Human rights organizations have documented extensive killings, with estimates ranging from tens of thousands to more than 30,000 fatalities.

Internet and communications blackouts have further isolated both civilians and security personnel, compounding confusion and emotional strain within enforcement units.

Fear and intimidation

Confronted with visible strain inside its security apparatus, the regime has relied on intimidation and ideological pressure to suppress further dissent.

Clerics and regime loyalists have expanded indoctrination sessions for mid-level IRGC officers to justify violence and reinforce loyalty to the system.

During these sessions, protesters are framed as "enemies of God", a label used to legitimize lethal force.

This religious framing serves both to rationalize brutality and to deter defections by portraying dissent as a spiritual crime.

The Islamic regime has also issued warnings threatening severe punishment for insubordination or refusal to carry out orders.

Iranian authorities have warned that anyone participating in protests or aiding demonstrators could face severe charges punishable by the death penalty.

Senior judicial officials have emphasized that no leniency will be shown toward anyone deemed to assist "enemies" of the state.

These threats reflect the regime’s fear of disobedience within its ranks and its reliance on terror to maintain control.