Following last year’s anti-establishment protests and ongoing pressure on the livelihoods of ordinary Iranians, the Islamic Republic is maneuvering to rally its supporters in the face of mounting public discontent. But as the state girds to mobilize conservative social strata, it faces a new and formidable challenge: remorseful former hardliners who were once staunch defenders of the establishment.

Rise of new threat

The number of former extremists-turned-critics in Iran is swelling, fueled by heightened attention they have been receiving on social media. What sets them apart as formidable adversaries of the state is their unique status as previous hardliners. They have weathered the tumultuous ebbs and flows of the political establishment, possessing an intimate understanding of...