Raheleh Behzadi
Abstract
In December 2025, the UN General Assembly adopted its annual resolution condemning human rights violations in Iran. Yet, most of Iran’s neighboring states either voted against, abstained, or refrained from participating. During the nationwide protests of January 2026, in which thousands were killed or arrested, these same states remained largely silent.
This article examines the political logic behind this regional silence. It argues that neighboring governments prioritize regime stability, predictable power relations, and existing security-economic networks over support for democratic movements. At the same time, the fragmentation of Iran’s opposition and certain symbolic missteps in diaspora protests have reinforced perceptions of risk and uncertainty about a post–Islamic Republic Iran.
The article concludes that changing this regional equation requires a unified, independent, and credible democratic alternative capable of presenting Iran’s future as a source of regional stability rather than instability.
To read the full article in Persian, download the PDF below
📄
