Iran could collapse from the periphery, not the centre
Financial Times • • world
Key Points:
- US and Israeli air strikes have targeted and eliminated many of Iran’s top leaders, destabilizing Tehran’s central power but potentially weakening its control over diverse and restive ethnic border provinces.
- Iran’s multi-ethnic border regions, including Azeris, Kurds, Lurs, Arabs, Baluchis, and Turkmen, have long been sources of dissent and could exploit any security vacuum created by these strikes, especially with alleged CIA support for Kurdish armed groups.
- The Kurdish political movement in Iran is gaining momentum through a new alliance of Kurdish groups, including the armed PJAK militia, which could receive reinforcement from battle-hardened PKK commanders redirected from Syria and Iraq.
- Other regions like Sistan and Baluchestan
