Iranian dissidents warn of possible uprising amid economic hardship and ongoing conflict

Underground activists in Iran told a news outlet that widespread public executions, a deepening economic crisis and a war lasting more than five months have created a volatile situation. One protest leader said a revolution could occur at any time, citing the January crackdown that resulted in thousands of deaths.

An independent journalist who operates in the Iranian underground said activists are studying the January protests to refine tactics and are mapping areas for future gatherings. The journalist claimed that makeshift weapons such as bricks, rocks, wooden clubs, chairs and tires have been hidden across the country for potential use.

According to the protest leader, small groups are covertly seeking firearms to distribute to demonstrators, using weapons stored in private homes and allegedly smuggled from abroad, though no source was identified. The leader warned that future demonstrations could be armed.

Both sources said the presence of foreign mercenaries recruited by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the reported arming of teenagers for local patrols have added to public tension. They also noted that recent protests in Isfahan attracted up to 2,000 participants against public hangings of two anti-regime figures.

The activists described soaring inflation, electricity and water shortages in southern Iran, and reported that even middle-class households are reducing meals because food prices are unaffordable. They said that if executions and repression continue while the economy remains stagnant, a single incident could trigger a larger uprising.

"We know the stakes, either the regime goes, or we do," the protest leader said.