Key Takeaways:
- Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has called for "rioters" to be put in their place, potentially giving security forces a green light to crack down on protests.
- The protests, sparked by Iran’s ailing economy, have resulted in at least 10 deaths and show no sign of stopping.
- The US has warned Iran that it will intervene if peaceful protesters are violently killed, prompting an angry response from Iranian officials.
- The protests have become the largest in Iran since 2022, but have yet to reach the same level of intensity as those sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.
- Iran’s economy is struggling, with the rial collapsing and the country facing sanctions over its atomic program.
Introduction to the Protests
The recent protests in Iran, sparked by the country’s ailing economy, have shaken the Islamic Republic and prompted a response from the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei’s comments, in which he called for "rioters" to be put in their place, have been seen as a green light for security forces to crack down on the protests. The protests, which have resulted in at least 10 deaths, show no sign of stopping and have become the largest in Iran since 2022.
Khamenei’s Comments
Khamenei’s comments were made in a speech to an audience in Tehran, in which he sought to separate the concerns of protesting Iranians from those of "rioters". He stated that officials should talk to protesters, but that there is no benefit to talking to rioters. Khamenei also reiterated a claim that foreign powers, such as Israel and the US, are pushing the protests, without offering any evidence. He blamed "the enemy" for Iran’s collapsing rial and accused a "bunch of people incited or hired by the enemy" of chanting slogans against Islam, Iran, and the Islamic Republic.
Response to the Protests
The protests have been met with a violent response from security forces, with reports of gunfire, grenades, and knife attacks. Two deaths overnight into Saturday involved a new level of violence, with a grenade exploding in the city of Qom and a member of the Basij, the all-volunteer arm of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, dying in a gun and knife attack in the town of Harsin. The US has warned Iran that it will intervene if peaceful protesters are violently killed, prompting an angry response from Iranian officials, who have threatened to target American troops in the Mideast.
Economic Context
The protests have been sparked by Iran’s ailing economy, which has been struggling in recent months. The rial has collapsed, and the country is facing sanctions over its atomic program. Iran recently said it was no longer enriching uranium at any site in the country, in an attempt to signal to the West that it remains open to potential negotiations. However, those talks have yet to happen, with US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning Tehran against reconstituting its atomic program.
Historical Context
The protests are not the first to be seen in Iran in recent years. In 2022, the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody triggered nationwide demonstrations, which were violently put down by security forces. The protests over a gasoline price hike in 2019 also saw a violent response, with reports of over 300 people killed. The current protests have yet to reach the same level of intensity as those sparked by Amini’s death, but they have become the largest in Iran since then.
International Implications
The protests have international implications, with the US and Israel warning Iran against violently cracking down on protesters. The US has a history of intervening in Iranian affairs, and Trump’s comments have sparked an angry response from Iranian officials. The protests also come at a time of heightened tensions between the US and Iran, with the two countries having come close to war in recent months. The situation remains volatile, with the potential for further violence and instability in the region.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the protests in Iran, sparked by the country’s ailing economy, have shaken the Islamic Republic and prompted a response from the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The protests show no sign of stopping, and the situation remains volatile, with the potential for further violence and instability in the region. The international community is watching the situation closely, with the US and Israel warning Iran against violently cracking down on protesters. The outcome of the protests is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the situation in Iran will continue to be closely watched in the coming days and weeks.