A 120-year struggle: Khamenei’s speech reveals a regime in rapid decline

Ayatollah Khamenei

Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s speech on Jan. 9 offers a rare and revealing glimpse into the structural weakness and psychological collapse of Iran’s ruling system.

Delivered on the 13th day of a nationwide uprising, the speech reflects a regime watching its once-feared repression machine losing effectiveness in real time.

By reducing a massive countrywide revolt to “burning trash bins” and “damaging buildings,” Iran’s dictator attempted to trivialize what every observer can plainly see...