Iran Update, August 28, 2026
The Iranian regime is attempting to suppress public discourse regarding the country's economic struggles, with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's office warning officials against 'disappointing speech.' This move aims to prevent economic frustration from undermining the regime's stability amid ongoing conflict.
Why it matters
Controlling the narrative on economic hardship is a key strategy for the Iranian government to maintain social cohesion and prevent domestic unrest.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and The Critical Threats Project (CTP) at the American Enterprise Institute are publishing updates Monday through Friday to provide analysis on the war with Iran. Most updates cover events from the past 24-hour period, whereas Monday updates also include events from the preceding weekend, collected after ISW-CTP’s 2:00 PM ET Friday data cutoff. ISW-CTP may publish special updates on Saturdays and Sundays if events warrant, however.
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