Hyderabad, Jan. 22 -- When widespread protest and violence, especially by the youths, led to the overthrow of the parties in power in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal in the post-pandemic years, Iran - though single-handedly taking on western enemies - managed to ward off the recent upheaval, but not before paying a heavy price. Contrary to the three South Asian countries, the Islamic Republic had to undergo this massive upsurge after its war with the United States and Israel, as well as the economic blockade and sanctions it had been facing for decades.

What is being ignored by the commentators in general is that, unlike Colombo, Dhaka and Kathmandu, cities in Iran witnessed massive pro-government rallies at the same time. This came as a...