Iranians want regime change over Ayatollah, Islamic Republic: survey

The people of Iran yearn for change — survey says.

Polling released this week by a Netherlands-based independent research group found more than 80% of the 77,000 Iranians surveyed want the Ayatollah to go.

Respondents also overwhelming voiced a desire to see Tehran transition away from the Islamic Republic.

A lowly 11% of Iranians said they still support the Iranian Revolution of 1979, and the job Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s been doing running Tehran.

The Ayatollah rose to power following the 1979 revolution, returning from exile to establish the Islamic Republic and rule Iran as its supreme leader. 

The Group for Analyzing and Measuring Attitudes in Iran (GAMAAN) conducted the survey in June 2024.

All of the respondents live within Iranian borders, according to the research group.

“A majority of the population opposes the Islamic Republic and supports changing or transforming the political system,” the report’s author, Ammar Maleki, explained.

Only around 20% of those surveyed want the oppressive Islamic Republic to remain in power.

An overwhelming majority of Iranians — 89%, in fact — support democracy while about half of the population — 43% — said it was open to authoritarian rule by a strong individual leader.

That view was more commonly held amongst uneducated people in rural areas.

In addition, people are none too happy with governance based on religious law and military rule, with 66% and 71%, respectively, chiming into voice opposition.

Since the survey was conducted, Iran has held a presidential election and was badly beaten by Israel in the 12-day war, which the organization admits could have swayed the results.