Persistent Protests in Iran Amid Economic Challenges
For over a week now, Iran has been experiencing a surge of protests triggered by the country's struggling economy. The situation has escalated to the point where the threat of intervention from the United States has intensified.
Recent video footage from the internet reveals ongoing demonstrations in Iran's capital, Tehran, along with the city of Yasuj, located in the southwest. Advocates for human rights state that 26 out of the 31 provinces in Iran have witnessed protests since the unrest began. The clashes have resulted in at least 20 casualties, including 19 protestors and a single security force member.
US Warning to Iran
The US president has issued a stern warning to the Iranian authorities. He stated that the US is monitoring the situation closely and that Iran will face severe consequences if they resort to violence against the protestors, reminiscent of their past actions.
Iran's Response to Protests
On Monday, the chief of Iran's judiciary expressed willingness to consider the legitimate concerns of protestors regarding their economic and social welfare. However, he also warned that they would not show any leniency towards those who seek to exploit the situation, stir up riots, and threaten the country's security.
The judiciary chief's statements were echoed by Iran's Supreme Leader, who firmly believes that those causing riots should be appropriately dealt with.
Foreign Influence on Iran
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson has accused Israel of attempting to disrupt their national unity. This accusation came shortly after the Israeli Prime Minister expressed his government's support for the Iranian people's struggle. The spokesperson dismissed these expressions of solidarity as mere incitements to violence.
This isn't the first instance of hostility between Iran and Israel. There was a brief war between the two nations last summer, which saw Israeli and US forces bombarding key nuclear facilities in Iran.
The Origins and Spread of the Protests
The recent wave of protests was triggered by shopkeepers in Tehran who were frustrated by the sharp decline in the value of the Iranian currency against the US dollar. This has caused the Iranian currency to plummet to an all-time low, while inflation has soared to 40% due to the economic squeeze from sanctions over Iran's nuclear program.
As the protests spread, university students joined in, and the unrest started reaching other cities. Footage from social media showed men and women in the city of Yasuj chanting for freedom. Similar scenes were observed in Tehran.
Increasing Tension and Unrest
Additional clips showed several protestors marching down a street in the northern city of Sari, expressing their discontent with chants like "Death to the dictator" and “Pahlavi is coming back” - references to the country's Supreme Leader and the son of the late shah, respectively.
The rising tension was palpable in another video clip that featured the sound of gunfire, with people fleeing in fear. Reports suggest that protests have taken place in several districts, including Ilam, Arak, Hamedan, Amol, Lahijan, Kermanshah, Malekshahi, Semnan, and Noorabad.
Violent Confrontations and Arrests
There have been reports of security forces storming a hospital in the western city of Ilam, where injured protestors were believed to be taking refuge. A human rights group reported that these protestors were among those shot when security forces opened fire on a demonstration outside a government compound in a neighboring county.
According to the reports, four protestors lost their lives in the incident, including a retired brigadier-general. Agencies have reported that three people, including the brigadier-general, lost their lives when rioters tried to enter a security facility.
A total of 19 protestors and one person linked to the security forces have reportedly been killed during the unrest. Other injuries include 51 people, primarily from birdshot and plastic bullets, and nearly a thousand people have been arrested in connection with the protests.
Recurring Protests
This is not the first time Iran has faced such widespread protests. In 2022, protests erupted following the death of a young Kurdish woman in police custody. This incident sparked a violent crackdown by security forces, resulting in over 550 deaths and 20,000 detentions, as per human rights groups.