Protests and general strikes have spread across Iran for the third straight day. The Iranian rial, meanwhile, has dropped to a historic low against the US dollar — further igniting the unrest. The protests broke out on Sunday. Shopkeepers in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar organized a major strike to show their anger against the rampant inflation and economic chaos that has taken over the country. Those demonstrations have quickly tipped over from Tehran to dozens of other cities, as well as to university students joining in, marching on campuses, and chanting anti-government slogans.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the highest authority in Iran. Most recently, he suggested that Israel’s current government wants to see hundreds of thousands of protesters destabilize the Iranian regime during regional turmoil. President Masoud Pezeshkian, who oversees the nation’s executive affairs, has recognized the protests, asserting that the government will listen to the grievances of the public “with patience, even if it is confronted with harsh voices.” In response, he has ordered the interior minister to negotiate with “delegates” of the protesters.
With the Iranian rial’s rapid depreciation, economic pressure has dramatically increased, igniting public anger and forcing the regime into major concessions. Out of control inflation has caused acute pain for regular Americans. Amid the change in administration, Iran’s central bank governor, Mohammadreza Farzin, resigned and was replaced by Abdolnasser Hemmati.
Reza Pahlavi, son of the erstwhile Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, currently lives in exile in the United States. He quickly and ardently spoke against that measure and expressed his solidarity with the protesters. He declared, “I am with you. Victory is ours because our cause is just and because we are united.” Pahlavi warned that as long as the current regime remains in power, “the country’s economic situation will continue to deteriorate.”
The U.S. State Department says it stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the demonstrators. They highlighted the protesters’ fight for “dignity and a better future” with help of their new Persian-language twitter account. Former U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the situation, noting that “they’ve got a lot of problems: tremendous inflation, their economy is bust.”
Since the protests began, protesters have been caught on camera chanting slogans like “Death to the dictator,” an obvious reference to Ayatollah Khamenei. Throughout the protests, certain groups have articulated their longing for the monarchy. Chants of Long live the Shah have resonated fervently across the crowds.
In response to Iranian regime President Pezeshkian’s ill-fated warning against foreign attacks, Mr. His message was clear. Iran would punish any repressive act and make the perpetrators profoundly regret their behavior. This short statement highlights the government’s hardline approach in a context of rising tensions at home and abroad.