Podcast Summary: "What’s Happening in Iran?"

Podcast: It Could Happen Here
Host: Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Air Date: January 14, 2026
Featured Guest: Gordain, journalist from East Kurdistan, affiliated with Hengo and other human rights organizations
Main Theme:
A comprehensive update on the recent mass demonstrations, violent crackdown, and information blackout in Iran, with a focus on Kurdish and other minority perspectives, the complexities of the Iranian state, and the opacity of Western media coverage.

Episode Overview

This episode offers an in-depth discussion of the fast-unfolding civil unrest in Iran over recent weeks, the government’s brutal suppression of protests, the resulting communications blackout, and the underreported role of Kurdish and other minority communities. Journalist Gordain provides eyewitness reports, analysis of ethnic dynamics, and insights into the regime and opposition landscape, while the hosts discuss international responses and Western misconceptions.

Timeline & Breakdown of Key Discussion Points

1. How the Protests Began and Spread

[01:16 – 04:16]

• Tehran Grand Bazaar Strike:

  • December 28: Massive, spontaneous strikes and demonstrations in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar—"basically the center of Iran's trade and one of the most important backbones of the Islamic regime."
  • Shopkeepers shut businesses and protested the "horrible economic situations" and the hyper-devaluation of the Iranian rial.
  • The protests spread across Tehran, then to major cities including Shiraz, Mashhad, Isfahan, and Tabriz.

• Kurdish Regions’ Reaction:

  • Unlike previous uprisings, Kurdish provinces (e.g., West Azerbaijan, Sanandas) initially did not join—citing heavy past sacrifices and harsh winter conditions.
  • Early January: By Jan 5-7, large-scale protests erupted in Malikshahi (Elam Province) and Kermanshah.

  Notable Quote:

  "The hospital in that small city was full, and they had no space anymore." – Gordain [04:16]

2. Regime Crackdown: Hospitals Raided, Communications Blackout

[04:16 – 11:46]

• Malikshahi Incident:

  • Security forces fired into crowds, causing mass casualties.
  • Hospitals rapidly overwhelmed; regime forces then "started attacking the hospital," firing tear gas inside and trying to kidnap/arrest the wounded.
  • Medical staff resisted, were beaten and some arrested.
  • Similar brutality reported in other cities.

• Strikes & Internet Blackout:

  • Jan 8: Seven Kurdish parties called a general strike—over 40 cities participated.
  • "Over 124 hours... there is no Internet connection in Iran."
  • Limited reports get out via Starlink or foreign SIMs near borders; “blackout... has caused a lot of confusion, a lot of horror that the world doesn't know what's happening.” – Gordain [07:00]

• Mass Killings and Human Rights Crisis:

  • Disturbing video evidence: “Countless bodies, maybe hundreds or maybe thousands... in body bags” at Tehran’s forensic center, Kharizak.
  • “Apparently the regime forces have machine-gunned all these people.” – Gordain [08:43]

  Notable Quote:

  "You can see in these videos that countless bodies...are just on the ground. And desperate family members...are looking for their loved ones." – Gordain [08:43]

• Death Toll (Unconfirmed):

  • Estimates range from 12,000 (Iran International) to 20,000 (CBS News), but info cannot be confirmed due to the clampdown.

• Destruction & Fear:

  • Reports of burning mosques, government buildings, desperate families searching for loved ones.

  Notable Quote:

  “She said that the people have burnt down most of the mosques and also the banks and other government buildings...” – Gordain [11:06]

3. The Role of Armed Groups and Ethnic Complexity

[13:39 – 18:10]

• Misconceptions of an ‘Armed Uprising’:

  • Most protests are civilian-led; Kurdish and Balochi armed groups are not launching direct offensives.
  • Kurdish parties warn against military escalation to prevent mass civilian casualties from regime retaliations.

• Kurdish/Baloch Groups:

  • Kurdish parties mainly monitor, organize, and collect information; Baloch groups have coordinated attacks, but little recent info.
  • “All of these parties... have some sort of networks inside Iran... But for now, the presence of these parties [in protests] is limited.” – Gordain [15:06]

• Iran’s Make-Up Beyond the Western Image:

  • Iran is “a very diverse country” with various large minorities (Azeri, Kurd, Baluchi, Ahwazi Arab, Turkmen, Mazandarani, Tailishi, etc.), religious diversity (Shia, Sunni, Jews, Christians, Yarsanis).
  • Ruling Persian group “owns the state, the entire identity is revolving around them,” with long-running state policies of language/identity assimilation.

  Notable Quote:

  “This language [Persian] has not just been a language of communication, it has been a language of oppression and assimilation.” – Gordain [20:49]

4. The Demands & Future Possibilities

[22:03 – 25:57]

• Primary Demand:

  • Overwhelming call for “regime change” across all ethnic groups.

• Minority Aspirations:

  • Widespread craving for federalism, autonomy, or self-governance among minorities—though the dominant Persian group largely resists these ideas.

• Post-Regime Fears:

  • Persian opposition split between monarchist, republican, and more pluralistic democratic visions; minorities uncertain if autonomy will be recognized.
  • Worry over civil war or another dictatorship if regime falls.

  Notable Quote:

  “Here we are fighting against a dictatorship. Why would we bring back another dictatorship?” – Gordain [24:20]

5. International Perception and (Non-)Intervention

[26:52 – 35:18]

• Trump’s Statements:

  • Trump alternately threatened the regime, cast doubt on regime responsibility for killings, and vaguely promised "help is coming.”
  • Some Iranians inside the country call for Western intervention, desperate for outside help.

  Notable Quote:

  “She was just saying, please, please be our voice and just tell them to attack, tell Trump to help.” – [28:32]

• US Policy Reality:

  • US “national security strategy... suggests they don’t care about the region and they don’t want to be involved.”
  • No established US partner force for ground intervention as in Iraq or Syria; possible US actions limited to selective airstrikes.

• Potential for Co-Optation & International Confusion:

  • Monarchist media and foreign outlets “completely ignoring... Kurdish people,” focusing coverage on restorationist figures and silencing diversity.

• Regime’s Use of ‘Foreign Interference’ Narrative:

  • Supreme Leader and government using protests as evidence of US/Israeli plots, a familiar tactic to legitimize repression and discredit protestors.

6. Current State Capacity and Regional Tensions

[35:27 – 38:15]

• Bluster on Attacking Western Interests:
  • Regime’s threats toward US/Israeli interests “not a new thing”—but Iran’s capacities likely diminished after recent Israeli airstrikes, the Air Force “apparently completely destroyed.”
  • Current regime threats possibly empty posturing, though intentions remain unclear.

7. Where to Find Trustworthy Updates

[38:15 – 40:00]

• Recommended Sources:

  • Hengo (www.hengo.org)
  • Ali Jawanmardi (VOA Kurdish, Persian, Afghan supervisor—active on social media)
  • Kurdistan Human Rights Network
  • Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran
  • General advice: “Follow human rights organizations... avoid media promoting a specific person or ignoring minorities.”

  Notable Quote:

  “It's better to follow human rights organizations and do not really fall for the things that some media that are just promoting a specific person because they're just taking away the truth.” – Gordain [39:24]

Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “The Iranian regime forces started shooting at people, and they injured and killed a lot of people.... They started shooting tear gases inside the hospital.” – Gordain [04:16]

• “We really don't know how many people are exactly killed, how many people are injured, how many people are arrested... And it makes things so hard.” – Gordain [09:18]

• "After the blackout... there were a few videos...that in a place called Kharizak... countless bodies, maybe hundreds or maybe thousands...in body bags." – Gordain [08:43]

• “The dominant group sees Iran as an entity that's not diverse, it's just Iran and everybody's Iranian.” – Gordain [23:30]

• “For now, if the regime is going to be changed, they want self governance, but maybe in the future, also independence.” – Gordain [25:00]

• "Trump is not somebody that you could trust. Ask people in Rojava..." – Host [31:19]

Suggested Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp (MM:SS) | Segment | |-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 01:16 – 04:16 | Overview of protest origins and early spread | | 04:16 – 11:46 | Crackdown, hospital attack, communications blackout | | 13:39 – 18:10 | Armed groups, minorities, and ethnic complexity | | 22:03 – 25:57 | Protest demands, aspirations, and future uncertainties | | 26:52 – 35:18 | US, Trump reactions, regime rhetoric, international views | | 35:27 – 38:15 | Regime capacity, regional military threats | | 38:15 – 40:00 | Where to get reliable reporting, recommendations |

Conclusion

This episode provides a sobering view of Iran’s ongoing crisis, amplifying on-the-ground realities—including the extreme violence, information suppression, and the complexity of Iranian society beyond the Western lens. It calls attention to the flaws in international reporting, the dire humanitarian situation, and the importance of seeking accurate, non-partisan information in tracking events as they unfold.