JERUSALEM — President-elect Donald Trump plans to revive his maximum pressure campaign against it the Islamic Republic of Iran coupled with a chronic gas shortage in the country could be the one-two punch that topples the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism, according to a prominent expert.
“This gas shortage in Iran is significant and highlights the regime’s growing vulnerability on multiple fronts. From the defeats of Hezbollah and Hamas in their conflicts with Israel to the Houthi losses in Yemen to the collapse of the Syrian regime under Assad. “We are seeing a steady erosion of the regime’s influence,” Lisa Daftari, Iran expert and editor-in-chief of The Foreign Desk, told Fox News Digital.
She continued: “Add to this the falling rial and the appalling mismanagement of resources despite the easing of sanctions and the handover of billions in unilateral deals under Biden’s leadership, and it is no surprise that the regime is under enormous pressure.”
Iran is expanding weapons capabilities critical to the use of nuclear bombs
TEHRAN, IRAN – DECEMBER 19: A view of traffic lights as power outages occur across the country, including in the capital Tehran, Iran, on December 19, 2024. It is occurring in Iran, where power supply problems are prevalent Power outages The typical summer events have extended into winter this year. Due to the outages, schools and public facilities have been closed in many cities, while classes are continuing online in some areas. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“As President Trump is likely to return to a leadership position.” emphasizes maximum pressureThe Iranian people could find themselves in an environment ripe for demanding regime change, Daftari said.
Widespread power outages and severe household gas shortages have rattled Iran’s rulers. The rulers who control Iran and are quick to use force against mass dissent are deeply fearful of social and political unrest.
Nationwide protests against fuel prices and the violent repression of women who do not properly wear the mandatory hijab have rocked the Tehran regime in 2019 and 2022.
In 2019, Fox News Digital reported that the Iranian regime killed at least 106 people protesting an increase in fuel prices. Three years later, in 2022, the regime’s notorious moral police murdered a young woman, Masha Amini, for not adequately covering her hair. The 2022 protests morphed into nationwide calls for the dissolution of the Islamic Republic.
Iran’s judiciary chief has sent a directive to prevent unrest due to the power and gas outages, according to a report by London-based news organization Iran International on Tuesday.
Demonstrators in Iran protest against the regime in 2022. (Source: NCRI)
Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of Iran’s judiciary, reportedly said: “The Attorney General and prosecutors across the country, in direct cooperation with the intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies, should take all appropriate measures and precautions to stabilize security and of the people and citizens, and as in the past and even with greater determination, take the appropriate measures so that the enemy’s conspiracy to create insecurity… is neutralized.”
TEHRAN, IRAN – DECEMBER 19: A view of businesses as power outages occur across the country, including in the capital Tehran, Iran, on December 19, 2024. It typically occurs in Iran, where power supply problems are prevalent to power outages The damage that occurred in the summer has extended into the winter this year. Due to the outages, schools and public facilities have been closed in many cities, while classes are continuing online in some areas. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Despite Iran’s vast natural gas and oil reserves, the energy sector is ill-prepared for seasonal peaks due to years of underinvestment, economic mismanagement, corruption and sanctions.
The Islamic Republic has also pumped enormous funds into its terrorist proxies. Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza over the years. Matthew Levitt, a counterterrorism expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said Iran funnels about $700 million to $1 billion a year to Hezbollah and Hamas secures $100 million a year.
President-elect Donald Trump shows at AmericaFest on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Phoenix. On Monday, Trump vowed that the Justice Department would pursue the death penalty after President Biden voted to commute the death sentences of 37 inmates. (AP Photo/Rick Scooteri)
The Iranian rial fell to its lowest level in history on December 18, losing more than 10% of its value since Trump won the presidential election in November. This signals new challenges for Tehran as it remains embroiled in Middle East wars.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Iran’s religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) meets Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad (L) in Tehran, Iran, on February 25, 2019. (IRANIAN LEADER’S PRESS OFFICE / HANDOUT/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Iran’s central bank has in the past flooded the market with more hard currencies to improve the exchange rate.
The currency plunged as Iran ordered the closure of schools, universities and government offices on Wednesday due to a worsening energy crisis exacerbated by severe winter conditions. The crisis follows a summer of power outages and is now exacerbated by severe cold, snow and air pollution.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
