The Iranian regime has escalated its war on dissent, arresting Azar Mansouri, the head of the Reformist Front, in a desperate bid to decapitate the political opposition amidst swelling street protests.

The arrest of Mansouri, a key figure instrumental in the election of President Masoud Pezeshkian, signals a dangerous fracture within the Iranian establishment. Taken into custody by the feared Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Mansouri is accused of "targeting national unity" and aligning with "Zionist" interests. This crackdown comes as the death toll from recent anti-government protests reportedly hits 3,000, a figure the regime is desperate to suppress. The detention of such a high-profile figure suggests the hardliners are now targeting the very "loyal opposition" that keeps the system’s facade of democracy alive.

The Purge of the Moderates

The sweep did not stop at Mansouri. Ebrahim Asgharzadeh and Mohsen Aminzadeh, both veterans of the reformist movement, were also rounded up. Even Hossein Karroubi, son of the house-arrested leader Mehdi Karroubi, was detained. The charge sheet is a laundry list of regime paranoia: "promoting surrender," "perverting political groups," and acting as "infantry for terrorists."

Judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei justified the arrests with chilling clarity: "Those who issue statements against the Islamic Republic... are in agreement with the Zionist regime." This rhetoric effectively criminalizes any criticism of the Supreme Leader’s handling of the crisis. Mansouri’s "crime" was expressing sorrow for the dead protesters and stating that "nothing could justify such a catastrophe"—a statement of humanity that the regime views as treason.

• The Target: The Reformist Front, an umbrella of 27 parties, is being systematically dismantled to prevent it from becoming a vehicle for the street movement.
• The Context: The arrests follow a "reformist statement" calling for structural changes, which the IRGC views as a prelude to regime change.
• The Consequence: By arresting the "safety valve" politicians, the regime risks pushing the entire opposition underground and into more radical confrontation.

A Regime Under Siege

Analysts warn that this move is a sign of weakness, not strength. The regime is fighting on two fronts: the streets and the political corridors. By arresting allies of President Pezeshkian, the IRGC is effectively neutering the presidency and consolidating total control under the Supreme Leader.

As international pressure mounts, with the US and Israel cited as the boogeymen behind the unrest, Tehran is hunkering down. The message to the Iranian people is bleak: there is no middle ground. You are either with the Supreme Leader, or you are a "Zionist agent" destined for Evin Prison.