Protests Erupt Across Iran Amid Currency Crisis
Massive protests broke out in various Iranian cities on Tuesday, following a dramatic drop in the value of the rial against the US dollar and soaring inflation rates that have exceeded 40%. Reports from Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad indicate that these protests are among the largest seen since the Women, Life, and Freedom movement in 2022, which began after the death of Mahasa Amini while in custody of the morality police.
The demonstrations, which started at universities and quickly spread to shopping districts, were ignited by the rial’s depreciation, reaching a staggering 1.42 million rials to one dollar. When Mohammad Reza Farzin became the governor of the Central Bank in 2022, the exchange rate was about 430,000 rials per dollar.
Despite Iranian state media reporting Farzin’s resignation on Monday, protests continued without pause. Many shop owners closed their businesses in defiance of the economic situation, which saw general inflation climb by 1.8% to 42.4% in December. Food inflation, in particular, surged to a staggering 72% last month.
Additionally, rumors circulated regarding potential government plans to implement a significant tax increase starting in March, which coincides with the Iranian New Year.
The regime attempted to control the unrest using its familiar violent methods. Militarized police deployed tear gas and batons during confrontations in Tehran; however, demonstrators reportedly pushed back against the security forces with chants of “Shameless! Shameless!”
In a tense moment on Jomhouri Street, a determined protester blocked traffic with his car, drawing comparisons to the iconic “Tankman” from Tiananmen Square, although he was subsequently apprehended by security forces.
Chants like “Fear not, we are all in this together” and “Death to the dictator!” filled the streets as protesters voiced their frustrations over the rising cost of living, targeting Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.
While state media sought to downplay the protests’ scale, attributing them to a small group, some chants invoked nostalgia for the rule of Reza Shah, whose regime was replaced during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This longing has become a frequent expression of dissatisfaction with the current theocracy.
Reza Pahlavi, son of the late king, criticized the protests and called for the overthrow of the Ayatollah as a remedy for Iran’s challenges. He emphasized that as long as the current government remains, the nation’s economic situation will worsen. Pahlavi urged all segments of society to join the protests, even reaching out to security forces to align with the people.
By Monday evening, Iran’s intelligence ministry sought to blame the unrest on foreign governments and agitators attempting to turn economic grievances into political turmoil.
President Massoud Pezeshkian, leading Iran’s secular faction, recognized that a heavy-handed approach might not be effective. He urged the interior ministry to heed the protesters’ legitimate concerns, asserting that the government acknowledges the difficult circumstances of the populace.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei announced intentions to track and penalize protesters who disrupt the economy, adopting the government’s narrative that foreign enemies were exacerbating citizens’ burdens.
This latest series of protests reflects broader unrest ignited by the Women, Life, Freedom movement, which reacted to government mismanagement leading to crises across various sectors. While the regime has weathered previous political storms, some optimists believe the current wave of protests might signal a weakening of its authority and potential change ahead.
Amid all this, Ayatollah Khamenei’s declining health remains a concern. His absence from public life has raised speculation about a succession crisis, while some experts suggest that the ongoing economic crisis could ultimately spell trouble for the regime. Activists assert that when people struggle to afford basic necessities like bread, unrest is almost inevitable.
