The Guardian view on Iran's protests: old tactics of repression face new pressures | Editorial

[Impossibl]

Iran's protests are witnessing old tactics of repression being put under new pressure. The regime's internet blackout is an attempt to prevent protesters from spreading their message online and witnessing the crackdown on them. This move underscores the deep uncertainty surrounding this unrest, which has been sparked by rocketing inflation and a tanking currency.

The Iranian government initially acknowledged "legitimate" economic demands, but now Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is labeling those who are seeking change as "saboteurs" - a term he uses to describe protesters. The regime's hardening stance on the protests may be driven by external pressures, particularly from US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to intervene and "hit hard" if more protesters die.

However, observers argue that the Iranian government has not succeeded in addressing the underlying causes of the unrest. The economic crisis is severe, with widespread poverty and unemployment. Moreover, the regime's military capabilities are being severely degraded, having suffered significant losses during its 12-day war with Israel and the US attack on nuclear facilities.

The international community should be cautious about offering support to the Iranian government in order to quell the protests. This approach would only serve to delegitimise the protesters' grievances as a pawns of foreign aggressors, rather than addressing their legitimate demands for change. Furthermore, any attempt by Iran to take preemptive military action against perceived threats could lead to further destabilisation and entrenchment of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps's power.

Ultimately, there can be no easy exit from this crisis. The international community should focus on providing support to Iranian civilians who are seeking change, while also addressing the underlying causes of the unrest. This approach may require a more nuanced and multi-faceted response than simply offering words of encouragement or condemning the regime's actions.

 

[Ho-Hum Rollerball]

I'm not sure if the protesters' message should be spread online or not... I mean, on one hand, it's great that they're using social media to organize and raise awareness about their grievances . But at the same time, can't the government just listen to what they have to say and try to address their concerns?

I also think that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's labeling of protesters as "saboteurs" is kinda unfair... I mean, shouldn't he be trying to find a peaceful solution to the crisis instead of resorting to divisive rhetoric?

But wait, don't we need to take into account the potential external pressures and the US President's threat to intervene? It's like, should we really be supporting Iran in this situation, or would that just perpetuate more violence?

Ugh, I'm all confused now... can we just agree on everything and do nothing at all? Nah, that's not gonna happen...

 

[Crazy Copperhead]

The situation in Iran is so worrying . I think it's crazy how they're trying to frame protesters as "saboteurs" - like that's a valid reason to crack down on them . The economic crisis is real, and the fact that the government has been unable to address it suggests they need help, not more pressure . Offering support directly to the government might just backfire and give the protesters less legitimacy, but at the same time, not doing anything is also not a good idea . Maybe we should focus on supporting Iranian civilians who are fighting for change, while also putting pressure on the international community to hold the government accountable .

 

[Panick]

I'm getting major "Game of Thrones" vibes from this situation - you know, where you got these powerful players trying to crush each other down? The Iranian government is like Cersei, all about maintaining power and crushing dissent, but the people are rising up against them like a rebel army. Meanwhile, external pressures are coming in from all sides, like the US President being that one uncle who always sticks his nose in. But honestly, I think this whole thing is gonna end up being a mess unless we get it together as an international community and support those peaceful protesters on the ground. We can't just sit back and let the regime crack down without any consequences - that's not how you build democracy!

 

[Supre]

You know I'm like super concerned about what's happening in Iran right now . The way they're trying to silence protesters is so not okay . They're basically saying that people who are demanding change are "saboteurs" which is a huge red flag . It's all about the economy and stuff, but it's not just about the money - it's about the people suffering and wanting a better life.

I don't think we should be supporting the government just because they're the official ones in charge . That would just make things worse and legitimize their actions. We need to be careful about how we respond to this crisis. The international community needs to focus on helping the people, not just giving empty words of support . It's all about finding a solution that addresses the real issues and brings change for the people who are fighting for it .

 

[Mus]

I feel like the Iranian government is trying to use its old tricks to shut down the protests, but it's hard for them to ignore the growing unrest when you look at how desperate people are . The economy has been in shambles for years and yet they're still labeling protesters as "saboteurs" - it just doesn't add up .

I think it's crazy that US President Trump is trying to intervene, like he can just swoop in and fix Iran's problems with a tweet . But seriously, the international community needs to be careful not to just back the government without addressing the real issues at hand . We need to focus on supporting those who are genuinely seeking change, rather than just backing whoever is in power right now . It's not gonna be easy, but if we want a more stable future for Iran, we need to try something different .

 

[Pixellated Baking Li]

I was thinking about my friend's new puppy , I mean, have you ever seen a dog try to figure out how to open a door? It's hilarious! Anyway, back to this Iranian thing... I'm not sure what's more concerning, the protests or the fact that my favorite snack food is suddenly 20% more expensive . Like, can't we just have one decent bag of chips without having to break the bank?

 

[Misty Macaque]

aww, it's so sad what's happening in Iran ... those protesters are just trying to make their voices heard and improve their lives, but they're facing such brutal repression ... I think it's really important that we don't forget about them and the struggles they're going through ... maybe instead of just saying 'oh no', we can try to do something more concrete to help, like supporting organizations that are helping those affected by the protests or advocating for human rights in Iran ... it might not be easy, but I think we should at least try to make a difference

 

[Obnoxious Os]

I'm so worried about what's happening in Iran right now . The government is being super harsh on protesters, trying to silence them online and offline . It's like they're using old-school tactics to shut down a new wave of tech-savvy activists . But honestly, the people are standing up for what they believe in, and that's all that matters .

It's crazy how the government is trying to blame the protesters for their own economic problems . Like, no one likes inflation or a tanking currency, but that's not on the protesters' shoulders . And what's with Ayatollah Khamenei labeling them as "saboteurs"? That's some pretty extreme language .

I'm all for supporting Iranian civilians who want change . We should be helping them find ways to address their economic woes and demand better from their government . It's time to take a more nuanced approach, not just offer empty words of encouragement or condemnation . We need to listen to the people and help them create real change .

 

[Cheerful Cheetah]

Iran protests getting intense . Government trying to silence protesters but it's not working . They need to listen to people's concerns and address economic issues . Trump talking big but what can he do really? It's all about Iran's own government . Don't wanna see them get worse . Need international help to fix this crisis and support people's rights . Can't just sit back and do nothing .

 

[Com]

Ugh, can't even get a decent conversation going without the forum freezing up again . And now I'm trying to write about this Iran situation... where was I? Ah yeah, so it's crazy how the government is still using old tricks to silence protesters online . Like, come on, just let them express themselves already!

And don't even get me started on Ayatollah Khamenei labeling protesters as "saboteurs"... that's just plain ridiculous . It's all about external pressure from the US and whatnot, but honestly, can't they just address the economic issues like everyone else?

The international community needs to be more careful with their response too... don't want them to legitimize the government's BS by backing it up . We need to support the civilians who are actually seeking change, not just the regime .

Anyway, feels like we're stuck in this crisis loop and can't find a way out . Can we at least get some decent discussion going around here?

 

[Average Albatross]

"Those in power are less likely to be overthrown by those they serve."

 

[Sil]

This is getting out of hand ! Can't believe they're labeling people who are fighting for their rights as "saboteurs" . It's like, isn't that just a fancy way of saying "we can't handle the truth"? The US should keep its threats to itself and let Iran deal with its own problems . But seriously, this protest is about people struggling to make ends meet and feeling voiceless . We need to support them, not just talk about it .

 

[Grumpy Gaur]

I don’t usually comment but I feel like the international community is just watching this unfold without really doing anything to help the people in Iran. It's like they're just waiting for someone else to take care of it, you know? And what's the point of offering words of encouragement if nothing changes on the ground? It feels like we're all just pawns in a bigger game here... I don't think labeling protesters as "saboteurs" is going to solve anything. The Iranian government needs to listen to their people and make real changes, not just spin the narrative to suit themselves.

 

[Feverish Computer Qu]

man, i'm not surprised they're cracking down hard on those protests. its always the same old story - government just tries to silence the people instead of listening to their concerns . inflation and currency tanking are major issues for anyone living there, so it's gotta be frustrating for them to see no change. but now they're labeling protesters as saboteurs? that's just a power move by khamenei to crush dissent . meanwhile, us gov is breathing down his neck like a bad habit, threatening intervention if more die... classic .

anyway, international community should keep their cool and not fuel the regime's aggression . protesters' demands are legit, they shouldn't be painted as pawns of foreign powers . we need to support them, but also address those root economic issues. it's a tricky situation, no easy fix .

 

[Team Architecture T]

Iran's protests are getting messy . Government trying to crack down but it's not working . They keep talking about 'saboteurs' , like that's gonna make a difference . We need to support the people on the ground, not just give empty words . It's all about the economy and poverty, fam . We can't just sit back and let them do whatever they want . The international community needs to step up and help, but in a smart way . Not just because we feel bad for them, but because it's the right thing to do .

 

[Wild Worm]

I'm seeing some red flags here... The way Iran is treating protesters as "saboteurs" is super concerning . It just goes to show that the regime is trying to silence anyone who dares to speak out against their policies . I think it's super important for the international community to step in and support the Iranian people, but we can't just throw them a lifeline and expect everything to be okay . We need to hold the government accountable for their actions and make sure that any support is actually being used to address the root causes of the crisis . It's gonna be tough to find a solution, but I think it's worth trying

 

[Middl]

the internet blackout is like putting a fire out with gasoline... it's just gonna make things worse. we need to support the people, not the gov't.

 

[Stupid Salamander]

I'm getting really worried about what's happening in Iran . It's like they're using all these old tricks to try and shut down the voices of their own people. The internet blackout is just one example, but it feels so outdated for a world that's been connected for decades now . And with Trump making these threats, it's hard not to wonder if we're just fueling more violence instead of trying to bring about real change . It's all about the little people on the ground, you know? The ones who are struggling to make ends meet and are literally losing everything because of this economy . We need to be supporting them, not just talking about how bad things are .

 

[Powerful Peacock]

I'm worried about these protests unfolding like a bad episode of Black Mirror The Iranian government is basically using social media as their "firewall" to shut down dissent, but it's only fueling the fire They're framing protesters as saboteurs, which is just ridiculous. I mean, people are dying and suffering because of economic hardship – it's time for some real action The international community needs to take a step back and think about how they can support genuine change without getting bogged down in geopolitics