Concerns are growing over Iran’s internal stability as reports suggest the government is increasingly relying on foreign fighters to contain potential waves of renewed street protests across the country.
According to The Jerusalem Post on Thursday, April 23, 2026, citing remarks from social network researcher Effi Banai in an interview with 103FM, the Iranian regime has brought in militias from outside the country in an effort to reinforce its presence on the ground and prevent widespread demonstrations.
Banai stated that social media activity inside Iran reflects rising tension and growing public frustration, suggesting that authorities are acting pre-emptively to avoid a repeat of past large-scale protests. He claimed that armed groups from Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan have been observed operating alongside Iranian forces in some areas.
He further described reports of armed personnel moving through streets in civilian clothing and using vehicles while carrying weapons, noting that their presence has been widely discussed by local users online. According to him, some of these individuals are reportedly speaking Arabic rather than Persian, a detail that has drawn attention and speculation within Iranian social media spaces.
The expert suggested that the regime’s strategy reflects underlying pressure rather than stability, arguing that the use of external militias signals internal weakness rather than control. He also pointed to economic hardship and public frustration as key drivers that could trigger renewed unrest.
Banai added that Iran is still dealing with the aftermath of recent regional instability, which he believes has further strained the country’s internal resources and security structures.
He also highlighted ongoing tensions between different power centres within Iran, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other governing institutions, suggesting that competing influence within the state may be contributing to instability.
While official Iranian authorities have not publicly confirmed the deployment of foreign militias for domestic crowd control, the claims reflect growing scrutiny of how the government is responding to potential unrest.
The situation underscores broader concerns about Iran’s internal cohesion at a time of regional pressure and domestic economic strain, with analysts warning that public dissatisfaction could escalate quickly if conditions worsen.