A striking new video circulating across Iranian and international social media appears to show three men dressed in Iranian army camouflage uniforms burning images of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei while holding pre-1979 Lion and Sun flags—one of the most potent symbols of the old monarchy. The men can be heard chanting “Long live the Shah” and other anti-regime slogans, marking one of the boldest public acts of defiance linked to the Iranian military in recent years.

The footage, widely shared since November 12, 2025, immediately ignited speculation about whether this act signals the early stages of broader dissent within Iran’s armed forces. While it is impossible to confirm the identity or active-duty status of the men from the video alone, the symbolism is unmistakable: open rejection of the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, coupled with open praise for Iran’s pre-revolutionary past.

This act comes at a time when the regime is under mounting pressure from multiple directions. Iran is facing severe water shortages, deepening economic collapse, and rising public frustration following its reported losses during a recent 12-day conflict with Israel—an event that further exposed the regime’s vulnerability. These stresses have contributed to renewed nationwide protests reminiscent of the 2022 Mahsa Amini uprising, when Iranians demanded fundamental political change and activists urged members of the security forces to defect. Although widespread military breakaways never materialized then, this new video revives that long-standing question.

If the men in the video truly belong to the Iranian military, the implications are significant. Uniformed personnel publicly denouncing Khamenei is an extremely rare occurrence, and even isolated acts of defiance can signal fractures within authoritarian structures that rely heavily on absolute loyalty. In a regime already strained by internal dissent and regional setbacks, even the perception of military wavering can fuel momentum among protesters seeking regime change.

For now, this remains a symbolic but powerful moment—one that captures growing anger inside Iran and raises the possibility that the unrest shaking the streets may be reaching deeper into the ranks of those tasked with defending the system. Whether this marks the beginning of a larger split inside Iran’s military remains to be seen, but the imagery alone has already delivered a shockwave through a regime unaccustomed to seeing its own uniforms turned against it.