Ideology, overreach and chaos: How Iran’s security strategy has backfired

Iran’s security strategy under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has backfired, leaving the regime weakened and facing its gravest domestic challenge. By prioritizing ideological expansion and funding proxies such as Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, and Iraqi militias, Tehran drained its economy and neglected domestic welfare. International allies like Russia and China offered limited support, while Israel’s counter-offensives exposed the vulnerabilities of Iranian proxies. Meanwhile, mass protests fueled by economic hardship, political repression, and anti-Islam sentiment signal rising domestic discontent. The Islamic Republic’s legitimacy is crumbling, and even if it survives, it risks profound internal fractures, potential IRGC dominance, and long-term instability.