France, Nov. 28 -- While Iran has lived with international isolation for decades, from the 1979 embassy takeover to the long war with Iraq in the 1980s, observers say the pressures it is facing today are of a different order. Old alliances are collapsing and the country is struggling to keep its footing in a rapidly shifting region.

The breaking point came after United States President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018. Prior to this, Tehran had spent years trying to open up to the world through president Hassan Rouhani and foreign minister Javad Zarif. Their approach was dependent upon European support. When Washington pulled out of the deal and reimposed sanctions, that strategy collapsed.

"They had lost the bat...