Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has taken several public-facing measures in recent days likely to alleviate public frustrations toward the regime.
Recent rhetoric from senior reformist figures reflects the divisions within this faction.
Regime-affiliated social media accounts have claimed that the Artesh—Iran's conventional military—will make a major announcement, possibly related to the acquisition of Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, on February 8.
CTP recorded no protest activity on February 4. CTP recorded at least one protest on February 5 and at least three protests on February 6.
Parliamentarian Hassan Nowrouzi announced that a specialized parliamentary committee approved a controversial internet censorship bill, known as the Cyberspace Protection Bill, and will soon send it to the Guardian Council for final approval.
Supreme National Security Council Secretary Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani will travel to Moscow at some point in the next week, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-february-6-2023
Iran Crisis Update, February 7, 2023
Multiple Iranian political factions, including hardliners, are coalescing around the assessment that the regime has lost touch with its people.
Senior Iranian officials offered to provide humanitarian aid to Syria and Turkey following a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6 amidst criticisms of the regime’s poor handling of a recent domestic earthquake.
At least two protests occurred in two cities across one province.
The Artesh Air Defense Force unveiled a new underground air base and cruise missile on February 7.
Supreme National Security Council Secretary Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani met with Russian Presidential Assistant Igor Levitin in Moscow.
The Financial Times reported that Tehran has substantially increased its efforts to help Moscow evade oil sanctions in recent months.
Iranian leadership may seek to use unspecified debts and infrastructure projects in Iraq to circumvent sanctions.
Iranian-backed Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) have deployed to Syria to provide humanitarian aid to earthquake victims
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-february-7-2023