Think tanks have telegraphing their opinions on how to effect regime change Iran for decades.
The most famous of these is from the Brookings Institute "Which path to Persia?"
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/which-path-to-persia-options-for-a-new-american-strategy-toward-iran/
Chapter 7, page 113: Inspiring an Insurgency: Supporting Iranian Minority
And Opposition Groups
"They contend that the United States should turn to Iranian opposition groups that already exist, that already have demonstrated a desire to fight the regime, and who appear willing to accept U.S. assistance.
The hope behind this course of action is that these various opposition groups could transform themselves into more potent movements that might be able to overturn the regime. For instance, the United States could opt to work primarily with various unhappy Iranian ethnic groups (Kurds, Baluch, Arabs, and so on) who have fought the regime at various periods since the revolution.
A coalition of ethnic opposition movements, particularly if combined with dissident Persians, would pose a serious threat to regime stability. In addition, the unrest the groups themselves create could weaken the regime at home. At the least, the regime would have to divert resources to putting down the rebellions.
At most, the unrest might discredit the regime over time, weakening its position vis-Ã -vis its rivals. The United States could also attempt to promote external Iranian opposition groups, providing them with the support to turn themselves into full-fledged insurgencies"
Although the protests started out organically and peacefully at the end of December due to the collapse of the Iranian currency, these peaceful protests were infiltrated, by "protestors" from dissident groups and became violent.
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202601073833