Nationwide Defiance: The "New Era" Uprising Shakes Regional Power to Its Core

Labor strikes have added a layer of structural pressure on the state. Workers in the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors—the lifeblood of the Iranian economy—have engaged in walkouts over poverty-level wages and the "plundering" of pension funds. When the energy sector stalls, the regime’s ability to fund its security apparatus and foreign operations is directly compromised, creating a feedback loop of instability.