Catherine Perez-Shakdam reports from sources within Iran that the Supreme Leader has fled Tehran and is hiding in bunkers, with major cities falling to revolutionary forces. IRGC bases are being seized by civilians and military commanders are abandoning the regime, rejecting orders from the Ayatollah. Communication with inside sources occurs through Starlink and satellite phones despite internet blackouts.

This wave of protest differs fundamentally from previous ones due to middle-class bazaar merchants joining the movement and people's loss of fear toward the regime. Millions are participating and growing daily despite brutal government responses including shootings, imprisonment, and executions, driven by the belief that they have nothing left to lose.

While the regime appears weakened, uncertainty remains about the revolution's outcome and aftermath since Khamenei survives and the IRGC could reinvent itself as a military dictatorship. Post-revolutionary stability depends on whether international figures like the crown prince provide leadership and a viable plan for governance, with Khamenei's son Mujtaba representing a potential continuation of authoritarian control.