Iran’s oil runs everything from protests to power yet deepens the state’s paradoxes

Revolution dreams survived until oil made dissent costly

Iran’s 1979 revolution began with hopes of freedom and independence, but power struggles reshaped the country into a repressive state. Oil became a central force, shaping political decisions and public expectations. Today, recurring protests reflect economic stress and shrinking civil liberties, with new demonstrations increasingly focused on personal rights and everyday freedoms.