Disappointed Iranian opposition counts less on Trump's help

Iranian regime opponents in Los Angeles used the World Cup match between Iran and New Zealand as a platform to protest against the Islamic Republic. Demonstrators waved the Iranian national flag featuring a lion and sun, the symbol used before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Some wore "Free Iran" t-shirts, while others chanted slogans against the current leadership.

Despite FIFA banning the pre-revolutionary flag as a political symbol, some exiled opposition members managed to smuggle it into the stadium. They displayed the flag during the Iranian national anthem and after New Zealand scored twice in the 2-2 draw. These protests highlight the ongoing dissent against the current Iranian government.

However, the exiled opposition's hopes for regime change appear to be fading following an agreement between the US and Iran to end the war. Initially, US President Donald Trump had promised to overthrow the Tehran regime and called for an uprising. But nearly four months later, the clerical and military dictatorship in Tehran is perceived as stronger, with expectations of significant revenue from oil exports due to Trump's intention to lift sanctions.

This development is a major blow to opposition figures like Reza Pahlavi, the 65-year-old son of the last Shah. Pahlavi, who had anticipated the regime's downfall and planned his return to lead a democratic transition, now faces a "catastrophe." Experts note that the war's course and its preliminary end have been problematic for the opposition, particularly Pahlavi, who had celebrated the conflict as the beginning of liberation. Despite the deaths of key figures like Ali Khamenei, significant political changes have not materialized in Tehran, and the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has remained publicly absent.