How firmly seated is the mullahs’ regime in Tehran? The increasing protests could be dangerous for the Islamist leadership, especially since inflation is not the only reason behind it. People are increasingly dissatisfied with the regime.
Across Iran demonstrate The people. On the one hand because of the soaring prices for food and energy, on the other hand there is also growing displeasure with the Islamist mullah leadership and the corruption among the Islamic Revolutionary Guards. The latter have gradually taken over economic control in the South Asian country in recent years.
In the country’s cities, people have taken to the streets to protest against the crippling political and economic situation. According to unofficial reports, security forces killed at least four people. The protesters, who come from all walks of life, are shouting slogans directed against the top of the clerical system, including the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and President Ebrahim Raisi. It can be assumed that the CIA and Mossad are also supporting the protests in order to weaken the unloved regime.
In the cities where the protests are ongoing, the government is either shutting down or partially throttling the Internet to control the spread of the news. The unrest began after the government cut subsidies for staples like cooking oil, eggs and milk last Wednesday. For example, the price of cooking oil rose by more than 400 percent overnight and that of flour by 500 percent. However, the dominant slogans at the protests, such as “Down with Khamenei, Down with the dictator” and “We don’t want the mullah to rule”, indicate that the protest against the ailing economy is pursuing another main demand: the overthrow of the system.
Observers assume that the current protests are even larger than those of 2019, when the uprisings were mainly concentrated in the capital Tehran. Back then, three years ago, according to unofficial information, hundreds of people were killed and thousands of demonstrators arrested during the anti-government protests. Exact figures are not available due to censorship. But now people are also protesting in the smaller towns because prices are skyrocketing and the ruling elites continue to wallow in prosperity.
Although the number of demonstrators is still manageable, the more the economic situation deteriorates, the greater the discontent among the population. Mainly because they know that the elite and their families are guaranteed not to go hungry and not have to worry about empty supermarkets.
