When Emotions Drive Politics: Iran between Internal Crisis and Global Politics

At an event organized by the Ring Christlich-Demokratischer Studenten (RCDS), Prof. Dr. Simon Koschut and ZU alumnus Manouchehr Shamsrizi discussed the current situation in Iran and the ways in which the regime, the opposition and international actors operate in a highly dynamic conflict environment. The discussion centered on the political and security structures of the Islamic Republic, the role of the Revolutionary Guards, forms of cognitive warfare and the impact of fear, uncertainty and competing narratives on political decision-making. It also addressed the perpectives of the Iranian diaspora, the opposition's room for manoeuvre and the responses of Western actors. A further focus was placed on the controversies surrounding international law raised by current developments and on the broader implications of political decisions taken outside existing rules for the international order. Overall, the event underscored how closely issues of security, legitimacy and public perception are connected.