In the current climate of political tension in Iran, the regime has adopted a strategy of allowing protests but with strict limitations. They instruct students to express dissent, but not in a way that challenges the authority of the government or fundamental Islamic principles. This approach is likened to a 'theatrical staging' of dissent, where the regime seeks to maintain control while appeasing public unrest without pushing boundaries that could lead to significant upheaval.

Recent protests in universities across major cities like Isfahan and Tehran have featured not just criticism of the Islamic Republic but also chants in support of the former Shah, Reza Pahlavi, indicating a longing for a different governance model among some segments of the population. This dual messaging of criticism and nostalgia for the Shah reveals a complex and layered dissent that the regime is struggling to navigate. The regime's response has been to allow a certain degree of vocal opposition while trying to keep it within limits.

This manipulation of protest dynamics is emblematic of the regime's fraught position—balancing between the need to quell dissent and the necessity of responding to the aspirations of its populace. The implications of this strategy are significant: it keeps the protest alive in a controlled manner but raises the question of how long this can be maintained before higher stakes insist on a more profound change in the political landscape of Iran.