How Iran's Regime Is Threatened by Its Cleries: A new wrinkle in the Islamic Republic's continuing political crisis.

The article covers the loss of legitimacy among Iran's hardline elites due to corruption, reduced religious devotion, and the erosion of democratic rights. The recent protests, sparked by Mahsa Amini's death, reflect the Iranian people's desire for personal dignity, individual sovereignty, and democratic rights. Despite the regime's declining legitimacy, its leaders continue to hold power, supported by security forces and other hardline factions.