Iran's economy has been in shambles since President Trump imposed maximum pressure sanctions on Iran in 2018. The Iranian people have grown poor and their purchasing power has decreased significantly.
Protests have been spreading across the country since late December, spurred by public anger over the state of the economy. Initially, it was just merchants shuttering stores in the bazaar in Tehran that triggered the unrest. However, the protests quickly spread to cities and rural areas throughout Iran, with thousands of people participating.
In recent days, the situation has escalated significantly, with videos showing large crowds marching through multiple cities and government buildings ablaze. The Iranian government has cut off internet service and international calling in the country as anti-government protests broke out.
The most recent protests appear to be a response to a call to take to the streets from Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the shah of Iran. However, protests have been spreading across the country since late December, spurred by public anger over the state of the economy.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused protesters on Friday of “ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy,” i.e., Trump. The Iranian regime has managed to violently suppress rounds of mass protests before, but this time it seems different.
Vali Nasr, a professor of Middle East Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, believes that the current protests are more significant because they are happening at a time of war for Iran. The Iranian regime's aura of invincibility has been shaken by the recent conflict with Israel and the threat from the US.
The protests themselves have to become even larger than they have been, they have to be sustained, and they have to be able to overwhelm the security forces when and if they are deployed in full force. And then they also have to be able to draw defections from the bureaucracy or the security forces of the country.
Vali Nasr believes that Iran is now caught in a whirlwind where it's going to face crisis after crisis, and ultimately that's going to force a major shift.
The Supreme Leader is 86 years old now, and whatever happens with the protests, he probably won’t be in power for more than a few more years. Is this a regime that can weather that kind of transition?
Protests have been spreading across the country since late December, spurred by public anger over the state of the economy. Initially, it was just merchants shuttering stores in the bazaar in Tehran that triggered the unrest. However, the protests quickly spread to cities and rural areas throughout Iran, with thousands of people participating.
In recent days, the situation has escalated significantly, with videos showing large crowds marching through multiple cities and government buildings ablaze. The Iranian government has cut off internet service and international calling in the country as anti-government protests broke out.
The most recent protests appear to be a response to a call to take to the streets from Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the shah of Iran. However, protests have been spreading across the country since late December, spurred by public anger over the state of the economy.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused protesters on Friday of “ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy,” i.e., Trump. The Iranian regime has managed to violently suppress rounds of mass protests before, but this time it seems different.
Vali Nasr, a professor of Middle East Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, believes that the current protests are more significant because they are happening at a time of war for Iran. The Iranian regime's aura of invincibility has been shaken by the recent conflict with Israel and the threat from the US.
The protests themselves have to become even larger than they have been, they have to be sustained, and they have to be able to overwhelm the security forces when and if they are deployed in full force. And then they also have to be able to draw defections from the bureaucracy or the security forces of the country.
Vali Nasr believes that Iran is now caught in a whirlwind where it's going to face crisis after crisis, and ultimately that's going to force a major shift.
The Supreme Leader is 86 years old now, and whatever happens with the protests, he probably won’t be in power for more than a few more years. Is this a regime that can weather that kind of transition?
The situation in Iran is getting really tough 
. I'm worried about the people there 
. It's like they're stuck in a never-ending loop 
. Sanctions have been hurting them for years, and now it's like they can't escape 
.
, his call to action is being answered by thousands of people who are fed up with the economic situation 
. It's time for change 
. I hope the protesters stay safe 
and that their voices are heard 
.
, but this time it seems like they're facing a bigger challenge 
. Will they be able to weather the storm 
or will Iran's future look uncertain
? Only time will tell 
, it keeps getting tighter & tighter 
. Sanctions & economic struggles are suffocating the country 
. Protests are now huge crowds marching in every city 
. Ayatollah Khamenei's old guard might not be able to handle this massive wave of discontent 
. Vali Nasr thinks it's time for a major shift 
... can Iran adapt? 
, will the old regime hold on or fall like a domino? 
I think Iran is finally waking up from its isolationist bubble! The Iranian people have been suffering for far too long and it's about time they demand change. This isn't just about economic issues, it's about the lack of freedom and human rights. If Reza Pahlavi can bring thousands to the streets, that's a powerful message. 
I'm thinking Iran's economy has been a ticking time bomb for ages 
. It's crazy how one country's policies can affect so many people worldwide 
. The fact that the Iranian protests are spreading and getting more violent shows that the situation is dire 
. Iran's economy has been struggling for years, and it's not like they didn't see this coming 
. It's like they're stuck in a never-ending loop of economic problems and protests 
. The government is trying to blame the protesters, but it's hard to see how they're going to stop this momentum 
I think Iran needs a serious change of pace, maybe someone who's not so tied to the past. and if the protests keep growin like that, it's gonna be hard for 'em to keep up 
The protests might be a blessing in disguise if it means they can get some real change happening. And who knows, maybe this is the push they need to modernize their economy and become more self-sufficient. It's not like the West is going anywhere anytime soon, so Iran will have to figure out its own way forward... 
.
.
. maybe its time for the iranian people to take matters into their own hands? 
. seriously though, it's crazy to think about the impact Trump's sanctions have had on Iran - poor people deserve better, and I'm not sure how much more of this the country can take before something big changes...
. The fact that people are taking to the streets, marching through cities and government buildings, it's getting pretty intense 
. One thing for sure, it's gonna be interesting to see what happens next! 
like the sanctions r still killing them hard and ppl r getting soooo fed up they just can't even anymore lol its not surprising that protests r spreading left & right everywhere 
. Maybe this is their chance to show the world that even 86-year-old Ayatollahs can adapt 
. Wish them luck, and also a comfy pair of robes because they might need some relaxation time