Leaked emails have revealed the Iran Experts Initiative (IEI), a covert network designed by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s diplomatic unit. Initiated in 2014, the IEI aimed to enhance Iran’s global sway by infiltrating think tanks. These leaks spotlight connections between Iranian experts and the Biden administration, extending the IEI’s influence even to European think…
Mojtaba Khamenei’s rise to Iran’s supreme leadership represents the consolidation of dynastic power within the Islamic Republic. Long operating behind the scenes through the Supreme Leader’s office and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, he has been widely viewed as the most likely successor to his father. His leadership signals continuity with the regime’s totalitarian structure and…
Conventional opposition structures are nearly impossible to build and protect inside Iran under the Islamic Republic’s extreme repression and surveillance. Judging Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi by the absence of a formal organisation inside the country reflects a misunderstanding of how the regime crushes any such networks before they can survive. His real strength lies in…
This article examines Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi’s role as an opposition leader amid the national uprising in Iran, focusing on his political vision, popular legitimacy, international recognition, and strategic framework for ending the Islamic regime and facilitating a democratic transition. It argues that he is the most viable and capable leadership option positioned to guide…
Prince Reza Pahlavi’s January 2026 interview with The Economist exposed a gap between Western legitimacy tests and Iran’s authoritarian reality. His credibility is rooted in organic, high-risk support inside Iran and sustained diaspora mobilization, not elections the regime makes impossible. He frames his role as transitional and non-partisan: preventing chaos, securing a democratic process, and…
This report provides an analytical overview of the nationwide protest movement that emerged in Iran in December 2025. It examines the protests’ timing, initial triggers, underlying structural drivers, geographic spread, social composition, articulated demands, and the response of state authorities. The immediate catalyst for the protests was a sharp economic shock marked by the collapse…
The Cyrus the Great Institute (CGI) has issued an urgent appeal to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding the detention of Mr. Erfan Qaneei Fard, an Iranian political analyst, writer, and one of the founders of CGI, who is currently being held in Texas. Mr. Qaneei Fard has been a consistent voice against extremism…
The Cyrus the Great Institute (CGI) presents a constructive assessment of the Iran Prosperity Project’s Emergency Phase plan, a 180-day roadmap for governance in the aftermath of the Islamic Republic’s overthrow. While recognizing the Booklet as the most comprehensive effort in nearly half a century to prepare for transition, CGI identifies both notable strengths and…
The Iranian opposition is often criticized for refusing to engage with separatist parties, yet this position is both principled and justified. This paper offers a threefold defense of the opposition’s stance. First, territorial integrity is a legal right of the state enshrined in international law—not an individual entitlement—and is essential for sovereignty and stability. In…
Constitutional monarchy offers Iran a politically stable and culturally resonant alternative to partisan republicanism. Grounded in both empirical research and philosophical tradition, it combines symbolic authority with institutional continuity, enabling national unity without authoritarianism. Monarchs function as neutral anchors above political conflict, often at lower public cost and with greater resilience than elected heads of…
Israel’s surprise attack exposed the Islamic Republic’s staggering military vulnerability, eliminating top commanders and penetrating airspace with impunity. The regime’s collapse in air defense and intelligence is not merely operational, it reflects decades of corruption, ideological purges, and systemic decay. As the war unfolds, six scenarios emerge, including revolt and military coup. In the early…