Ross/Bliss/Milani @ Coupa Cafe GSB

Attendees: Dustin J Ross, Bliss Perry, Milani Date: January 26, 2026 Type: Partner Session

Summary

Current protests resulted in 10,000+ deaths in 4 days (regime shut down internet completely)
- Regime forces went into hospitals to kill wounded protesters
- Families must pay for bullets or sign false statements claiming victims were regime supporters
- 35,000+ people killed overall according to expert estimates
Theological foundations drive policy over rational state interests
- Khomeini’s interpretation: Jews are “hypocrites” who betrayed Muhammad
- Anti-Semitism embedded in Quran exegesis used to justify anti-Israel stance
- Regime claims Arab descendancy through black turbans (Sayyid status)
Iran never fully adopted Islam - created Shiism as distinct identity
- Maintained Persian language unlike other conquered territories
- Most Islamic theologians historically considered Shiism heretical
- ISIS targeted Shiites as “Jewish conspiracy”

Ideological rejection of Iranian nationalism in favor of Islamic Ummah
- Khomeini doctrine: spiritual community over nation-state (Mellah vs Ummah)
- Billions spent supporting Hezbollah while calling Persians “Ajam” (non-Arabs)
Recent tactical shift toward nationalism during Israel conflict
- Khamenei emerged from hiding, allowed banned nationalist songs
- Similar to Stalin reviving Orthodox Church during WWII
Regime operates as occupying force rather than legitimate government
- 6 million Iranians left country (out of ~85 million population)
- No popular support for regime’s regional conflicts

Expert prediction: regime will fall, replaced by democratic, secular government
- New government likely to make peace with West and Israel quickly
- Iranian people support this direction overwhelmingly
US/International response inadequate compared to other conflicts
- Minimal media coverage despite massive casualties
- Progressive movements co-opted by Iranian soft power operations
Israel’s military campaign against Iran stopped unexpectedly
- Regime was “on verge of complete collapse” before cessation
- Unclear why Israel halted operations when momentum favored continuation