A Short Reflection on Iran’s January 2026 Political Violence: Toward a Nonviolent Approach

First and foremost, we must acknowledge the grief and sorrow that the January 2026 tragedy has inflicted upon our people—and upon each of us, wherever we may be in the world—as well as the pain and suffering that today engulf the entirety of Iran. We extend our condolences to all mourners who have lost loved ones and to the dignified and honorable people of Iran. What unfolded in mid-January 2026 in Iran presents unprecedented dimensions in the history of our country, and it will take years to approach a full understanding of its truth. These dimensions cannot be adequately explained merely as a temporary crisis or a security–military event. The staggering magnitude of human suffering, the intensity of violence, and the short- and long-term social consequences place this event among catastrophes that demand profound reflection, historical documentation, analytical caution, and moral responsibility.
The rupture that this event has created between our society and the governing structures will remain etched in Iran’s historical memory and may prove highly perilous for the future of all. This is particularly true if it leads to deeper, more indiscriminate, and self-perpetuating forms of violence. Avoiding such a scenario requires the full disclosure of all facts, down to their finest details, through precise, independent, and objective judgment, and the implementation of justice within a legal, transparent process that is free from any ideology, vindictiveness, or violent impulses. It must be emphasized that neither recourse to terrorizing or violent methods can have the slightest effect in addressing the roots of these tensions, nor can reactive or retaliatory violence create a better prospect for Iran’s future. Violence, in any form, is inherently regressive and destructive, yielding nothing but collapse, isolation, and the deepening of social disorder. Responsible engagement with such circumstances first and foremost demands recognition of human suffering and the avoidance of any oversimplification, emotional overreaction, or instrumentalization of collective pain.
In analyzing the dynamics within Iranian society, primary and unavoidable responsibility lies with the decision-making institutions and the mechanisms of public governance. The prolonged erosion of social trust, the blockage of channels for dialogue, the marginalization of widely respected figures and institutions, the weakening of intermediary bodies, and the accumulation of economic, social, and cultural crises have created conditions in which any shock or tension rapidly escalates into a costly and uncontrollable situation. Ignoring or hastily bypassing this reality constitutes the most expensive course of action for all, both in the medium and long term. At the same time, regional and international conditions remain highly unstable and precarious. Contemporary experiences in the Middle East have shown that, if domestic crises persist or intensify, they are easily exposed to external interventions, geopolitical pressures, and destructive scenarios rooted in opportunism, plunder, war-mongering, weakening, or even the disintegration of the state. Highlighting these contexts is not intended to shift responsibility, but rather to underscore the fragility of the situation and the imperative to avoid misguided and destructive paths.
Peaceful popular protests, when conducted within the framework of fundamental demands for human dignity, security, freedom, and the possibility of a decent life, possess full legitimacy. At the same time, any form of violence—whether institutional, structural, reactive, or sporadic—not only fails to address the crisis but further deepens and complicates it. Historical experiences clearly demonstrate that violence, particularly when coupled with motives of revenge, radicalism, or mutual elimination, leads to the uncontrolled reproduction of distrust, the erosion of social capital, and the closure of rational avenues for resolution. From this perspective, warmongering, foreign military intervention, and initiatives premised on violent collapse, coercive overthrow, or escalation of tensions constitute some of the most dangerous departures from social rationality; these paths not only fail to improve the conditions of the populace but also entrap society in a debilitating and irreversible cycle.
In the current threshold situation—characterized by data ambiguity, rapid developments, and a high potential for the political and media appropriation of discourse—refraining from hasty and definitive analyses is a responsible course of action. The temporary suspension of detailed analysis does not signify passivity or a neglect of critique; rather, it constitutes an effort to prevent the reproduction of violence, both at the level of social reality and in the symbolic or discursive realm. In such circumstances, maintaining social hope, defending the cohesion of Iranian society, and emphasizing the return to fundamental principles of human dignity, civil liberties, and democratic rights acquire heightened importance. Only through the strengthening of peaceful avenues, the gradual reconstruction of social trust, and a movement toward critical rationality can a less costly and more humane prospect for the future be envisioned.
The provision of more detailed analysis is contingent upon the attainment of a minimum degree of stability, transparency, and access to reliable data. This approach should be understood and interpreted as consistent with our enduring intellectual framework—one grounded in the maximal avoidance of violence, social responsibility, and rigorous critical reasoning.
January 28, 2026

This note represents an effort at ethical and human reflection in the face of a tragic event, rather than a complete analysis or judgment of a distressing occurrence.

This text is an AI assisted English translation of a note, the original of which can be found at the link below:

*https://nasserfakouhi.com/%d8%af%d8%b1%d9%86%da%af%db%8c-%da%a9%d9%88%d8%aa%d8%a7%d9%87-%d8%a8%d8%b1-%d9%81%d8%a7%d8%ac%d8%b9%d9%87-%d8%af%db%8c%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%87-