Iran’s Generation Z Pushes Back as Leadership Struggles Between Reform and Control
In today’s Iran, a tug-of-war is playing out between competing visions for the country’s future. While some elements of the Iranian state push for moderate social reforms, others remain determined to maintain the rigid control that has defined the Islamic Republic for decades.
President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration — which came to power promising social openness and greater dialogue with the youth — is learning just how difficult that balance is to achieve. His recent efforts to connect with young Iranians, especially Generation Z, have sparked as much controversy as conversation.
A “Gen Z Adviser” and a Divided Audience
A month ago, Pezeshkian made headlines by unveiling his new “Gen Z adviser,” Amirreza Ahmadi, an attempt to bridge the widening gap between Iran’s leadership and its youth. The smiling photo of the two quickly went viral, symbolizing a rare moment of outreach in a country where young people often feel ignored or silenced.
Ahmadi said his mission was to “listen to the youth of Iran — from Tehran to the borders of this country.” He even shared his personal phone number, inviting feedback directly from young citizens. But the goodwill didn’t last long. Critics accused him of being out of touch, claiming he did not “resemble” Gen Z Iranians and was using bots to inflate his social media following. Soon after, Ahmadi disabled comments on his accounts amid a flood of online backlash.
Despite the criticism, the appointment reflected the government’s recognition that Iran’s younger generation — increasingly bold, globally connected, and politically aware — cannot be ignored. Pezeshkian’s campaign had promised to ease social restrictions and improve relations with the West to lift sanctions. But since taking office, those promises have met both public skepticism and fierce resistance from conservative power centers within the regime.
A Generation Growing Apart from the State
For many young Iranians, especially those born in the 1990s and 2000s, official efforts to engage them feel shallow and disconnected from their realities.
Dr. Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, says the state is “struggling to speak the language of a generation that grew up online and outside its ideological frame.”
She explains that these outreach attempts “feel transactional rather than transformative,” aimed more at preventing unrest than promoting genuine change. “The hardline elite’s fear of losing control outweighs any concern about losing the young,” she told Al Jazeera.
That fear has kept Iran “locked in a politics of repression rather than renewal,” Vakil added, predicting continued clashes between reformist rhetoric and conservative enforcement.
Economic Strain and Social Defiance
Iran’s Gen Z has grown up amid spiraling inflation, high unemployment, and international isolation. Many are disillusioned with the country’s leadership, blaming corruption and mismanagement for their lack of opportunity.
Yet, they continue to push boundaries — socially, culturally, and politically.
Recent months have seen young Iranians increasingly testing the limits of state control, often through small acts of defiance: dressing freely in public, performing music on the streets, or openly criticizing religious restrictions online.
A viral video from downtown Tehran showed young men and women — ignoring the strict dress code — enjoying a lively street music performance. Though street musicians have long operated in a legal grey area, the video’s popularity drew state attention. Authorities soon cracked down, shutting down one performer’s Instagram account and labeling it “criminal content.” Police later posted on the account that it had been closed under a judicial order.
The case reflects a broader pattern: as cultural expression flourishes, hardliners respond with renewed crackdowns.
The Shadow of War and Renewed Sanctions
Iran’s leaders are also facing heightened external pressure. After a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel in June 2025, Western powers renewed calls for regime change. Meanwhile, the reinstatement of United Nations sanctions and fears of further escalation have put the government on edge.
Officials in the moderate camp argue that public support is crucial for national resilience during such crises. They have quietly advocated for easing restrictions on social freedoms — from clothing laws to public entertainment — as a way to calm domestic tensions.
Even former President Hassan Rouhani, a leading moderate voice, recently criticized hardline lawmakers for passing unpopular laws that “contradict the will of the Iranian people.” Though he didn’t name it directly, his comments were widely interpreted as a jab at the controversial mandatory hijab law.
While the Pezeshkian administration has claimed it won’t heavily enforce hijab rules, conservative factions have doubled down, organizing new crackdowns under the banner of moral and cultural preservation.
Culture Wars in the Streets of Tehran
In recent weeks, conservative media has celebrated police raids on what they describe as “immoral gatherings.” One report from Fars News Agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), announced the closure of a so-called “illegal disco” near Tehran. Officials alleged that women were dancing with men “without hijabs” and that alcohol was being served — both acts prohibited under Iranian law.
However, local residents told reporters that the electronic music event had been running for weeks with legal permits and that ticket sales were initially approved by authorities.
Such contradictions have become increasingly common. The same establishment that authorizes a public concert or art event may later move to shut it down under pressure from hardliners.
Earlier this year, authorities closed a major restaurant in Tehran’s Nahjol Balaghe Park after a video circulated showing people dancing inside. Officials claimed the venue had also served alcohol. Similarly, several clothing stores were recently sealed for hosting events where young Iranians danced or modeled Western-style attire.
The Hijab and the Question of Freedom
The Supreme National Security Council has reportedly ordered a pause in strict hijab enforcement, a law that has led to arrests, lashings, and heavy fines. Still, many women continue to face harassment.
The issue remains deeply symbolic. The 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman detained by morality police for an alleged hijab violation, triggered months of nationwide protests — some of the largest in Iran’s modern history.
Although Pezeshkian’s government insists it has cut funding for the morality police, their white vans have reappeared in several cities, suggesting enforcement continues unofficially.
Women have also defied other gender restrictions. Despite not being granted motorcycle licenses, hundreds have been riding motorcycles publicly, posting viral videos and participating in group rides in Tehran. Although legislation to allow women to ride legally has been drafted, it remains stalled in a hardline-dominated parliament following record-low voter turnout.
Censorship and the Digital Divide
For a generation raised on smartphones and global connectivity, internet censorship remains one of the most tangible forms of repression. Iran continues to block nearly all major social media platforms — including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube — alongside tens of thousands of websites.
Pezeshkian had promised to lift these online restrictions, but his government has backtracked, blaming the ongoing conflict with Israel. Officials claimed that “security concerns” tied to the June war prevented them from easing internet controls.
However, digital rights advocates argue that censorship is less about national security and more about silencing dissent among Iran’s young, politically active population.
A Generation Without Faith in the System
According to Azadeh Moaveni, writer and associate professor at New York University, neither reformists nor conservatives command meaningful support among the youth.
“None of the factions have been able to offer anything real to young Iranians,” Moaveni told Al Jazeera. “They don’t see hope in the system — not in its promises of reform, nor in its warnings of chaos.”
With unemployment high, the economy faltering, and social freedoms under siege, many young Iranians are disengaging from politics altogether. Others are expressing dissent through art, fashion, and underground music — subtle but powerful acts of rebellion in a country where open protest can still lead to imprisonment or worse.
Between Repression and Renewal
Iran’s leaders face a difficult choice: evolve with their young population or risk alienating them entirely. For now, the system appears trapped between conflicting ideologies — one that fears change and another that recognizes it as inevitable.
As President Pezeshkian’s administration tries to find its footing, Iran’s Gen Z continues to challenge the old order, redefining what resistance looks like in one of the world’s most tightly controlled societies.