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Iran faces acute external pressure from the US and EU, with Trump's tariff threats and military deployments intersecting with internal crackdowns on protests, creating a volatile crisis across all domains.
January 2026
Week of Jan 26, compared to 12-week average
Top sources covering Iran
Iran's economy is under severe external shock from US sanctions and tariff threats, causing extreme volatility in global oil markets. Oil prices spiked on fears of US military action and new sanctions targeting officials, then fell when Trump dialed down tensions, demonstrating market sensitivity to US rhetoric.
Iran's political arena is dominated by a high-stakes diplomatic duel with the US, characterized by Trump's alternating threats and offers for talks. The government is simultaneously engaged in regional diplomacy with Turkey and Russia while defiantly promising quick trials for protesters.
Security tensions with the US have escalated to a direct military standoff, with a US armada deployed to the region and Iran planning live-fire drills. The EU's terrorist designation of the Revolutionary Guards represents a significant international diplomatic isolation.
Society is in a state of severe repression, with a persistent protest movement met by a violent crackdown and internet blackout resulting in hundreds of deaths. The dominant tension between the state and protesters has entered a phase of extreme violence and international condemnation, with Trump positioning himself as an external supporter of the demonstrators.
