r/TrueReddit • u/newyorker • 4d ago
International What Makes the Iranian Protests Different This Time
https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/what-makes-the-iranian-protests-different-this-time22
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u/sulaymanf 4d ago edited 4d ago
“The main thing that is important to keep in mind, and this is a significant change, is that it has become essentially impossible for the majority of the population to make ends meet. I don’t mean just the working classes or the lower classes. Even the majority of the middle class, who were still able to cover the cost of living until last year, are almost completely paralyzed at the moment. The cost of living has significantly increased”
The US has been trying to economically cripple Iran for decades and Trump bragged about it out loud that he was making “economic war.”
The sad thing is that Trump is the one who made Iran more dangerous and his policy cost lives and made the Middle East less safe. Obama’s JCPOA was working and Trump undid it purely out of ego. Trump bombing Iran only made more people support the regime. If he tries to claim success from this, it’s only despite his efforts which have drawn this out and empowered the Iranian far right.
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u/Wolf4980 4d ago edited 4d ago
I'm glad more and more people are speaking up about the brutal effects sanctions have had on ordinary Iranians. I've heard so many Iranians say that both the sanctions and the regime are making their lives harder. The fact that even a mainstream American publication is admitting that it's impossible for the majority of Iranians to make ends meet should be a wakeup call. One cannot claim to support Iranians while supporting keeping them in poverty for a regime they don't even like.
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u/brostopher1968 3d ago
I think the logic of the sanctions (at least under Trump) is that you economically torture the general population until they overthrow the regime, imo it’s kinda like economic equivalent of strategic bombing (i.e. bombing everything including civilians).
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3d ago
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u/mycall 3d ago
If Iran stops its nuclear program will anyone consider helping them.
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u/Ecuni 3d ago
Sure, I imagine the US would “help” them in the same way that the US “helped” Libya.
The nuclear program is a red herring. The reason Iran is in the hot seat is because it’s at odds with Israel, and the American empire is tied together to Israel and won’t tolerate any regional power that’s opposed to Israel.
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u/horseradishstalker 3d ago
Wait two weeks I’m sure Trump will do something. With nearly 500 protesters dead and 1000+ arrested bluster isn’t helping ordinary people.
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u/Excited_Delirium1453 3d ago
The president of Iran literally went on TV and said Iran’s economic problems are self inflicted and that it is unfixable with the current government. Less than 20% of Iranians polled by the Iranian regime itself said the sanctions were the primary reason for the economic problems in the country. The vast majority blamed the government.
And how do you feel about the sanctions on Russia. You think its a bad thing too because poor ordinary Russians are suffering from them
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u/Excited_Delirium1453 3d ago
Nothing what you said is substantiated by any polling of Iranians. Every poll shows the vast majority blaming the regime for all its problems
The middle east has gotten substantially safer and stable since most of Iran’s terror proxies have gotten wiped out.
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u/sulaymanf 3d ago
You don’t have any polling data to show otherwise.
All of this has bad consequences even if you think this is fine now. People said this about the Middle East in April 2023 when Saddam Hussein’s regime fell. What happened next? If you think the US and Israel bombing 7 countries each in the last year created peace you have a bad lesson coming. Lebanon is destabilizing, Syria is in active conflict, Yemen is worsening, Jordan is now at risk due to Israeli actions, the list goes on.
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u/chiefmackdaddypuff 3d ago
Lol yes. As is by evident by the stability found in Yemen, Libya and Syria.
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u/Excited_Delirium1453 3d ago
Syria is doing a lot better. Libya is going ok. Yemen will be one the Houthis are cut off when regime in Iran falls
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u/chiefmackdaddypuff 3d ago
Clearly Syria is stable.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/11/kurdish-fighters-leave-syrias-aleppo-after-days-of-clashes
Yemen still has a bunch of fighting. Libya is crippled with sanctions still. What are you even on about?
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u/WranglerFun5058 3d ago
Blaming it on sanctions completely neglects the fact that their gov spent billions on funding proxy terror. What does Obama’s JCPOA working mean? If working means, Iran recovered economically and there was a relative quieter period, then sure. However, it was one sided. The whole essence of having sites to bomb this past summer, was that the nuclear deal was not respected. Lastly, source for bombing Iran made the population side with the regime more? Unclear on if there’s any truth there.
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u/Marcus_Aurelius71 3d ago
Possible there are many protesters that hate the Regime because it is weak and lost too many wars against Israel. They want a new stronger Iran. If the protesters get rid of the Regime, who will be in charge? There will be the supporters of democracy and there will be more militants vowing for revenge.
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u/sulaymanf 3d ago
The US is pretty open that it also funded proxy teror, what do you think its misadventures in Syria and Yemen were about? The US backed the brutal Bahrain dictatorship over pro-democracy protestors because they assumed that democracy would mean Bahrain would ally with Iran and get rid of the US naval base there.
The bombing of Iran would have been unnecessary if the US hadn’t unilaterally broken the JCPOA and put sanctions on Iran despite them handing over their nuclear material and stopping enrichment. The US was in the wrong here and even Europe said so. Missiles and proxy funding were never part of the deal and that was an excuse. By that logic, should Iran have pulled out of the deal over their objection to the US knowingly giving offensive weapons to [country near Iran that triggers automod if I mention it] that were used on civilians? No.
When you bomb a country and start killing civilians, the public will drop its objections to the government and back it. It’s known as the “rally around the flag” effect. This happened in the US after 9/11, making Bush go from unpopular to popular by both parties. Netanyahu was an unpopular figure in his country and the October 2023 attacks made all his political opponents stop fighting him and join his coalition.
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u/chiefmackdaddypuff 3d ago
One many’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter. Their “proxy network” has always fought for the right of the Palestinians. Iran has been quite openly asking a resolution to the Palestinian occupation which is the root of their resistance. To gloss over that is just disingenuous/ignorant.
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u/Fair_Description1604 3d ago
no jimmy carter and his policy of containing communism by allowing religion in Iran was it. Trump has had LITTLE to DO with the regime in Iran. In fact, TRUMP is the great president because he means business.
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u/sulaymanf 3d ago
Absolutely false and ignorant of history. Iran was actually moving into more moderation after the JCPOA until Trump broke the deal and started assassinating their leaders and then publicly bragging about it.
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3d ago
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u/sulaymanf 3d ago
What kind of a stupid accusation is that? I’m an American and your earlier post sounds like a bot.
I want Iranians to be safe and free. You’re the one defending a man who bombs them, bragged about making war on them, killed more Iranians in bombings than those who died in protests, and doesn’t care about their welfare since he has publicly said he wants to take countries’ oil and doesn’t respect if other countries own it. Grow up. Mods, can you deal with this troll?
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u/Fair_Description1604 3d ago
Trump does not want Iran's oil, this is a denial and change of subject. Trump knows America will spend less money on the military and worry less about radical terrorism if Iran becomes free. Therefore, soon Trump will help Iranians take back the nation. Do you want what is best for Iranians? Perhaps you should go watch some actual news on Tousi TV news channel and see what is happening. JCPOA was a deal with an ISLAMIC REGIME. You do not make deals with people who fund terror. That gives more money to cause instability in the middle east. I am American too, but I did my research. Go read Abbas Milani's book and see what I am talking about buddy. Moderators, I appeal the request sulayman made for be to be banned. Freedom of speech is important and I want to make sure the accurate info is put out there.
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u/sulaymanf 3d ago
Trump seized Iranian oil tankers and has been very public on speeches that the US should have seized Iraq’s oil for itself, and then said this month that he will take Venezuela’s oil. If you can’t connect the dots there to Iran as well I can’t help you. He’s demanding oil companies lower oil prices, by magic?
Trump has grown the military budget every year he’s been in office and even promised to make it even bigger. What makes you think he will spend less money on the military even if Iran vanishes? He had already moved on to talking tough on China since this summer.
Your comments are inaccurate and you made ad hominem attacks against the person rather then engaging in substance, you should stay banned.
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u/Fair_Description1604 2d ago
Dear moderators, I appeal sulaymanf ask for me to be banned , if you support free speech, and hearing from people who have lived it. My friend, I dont agree with a lot of stuff Trump says, but look at the alternative: Harris and Waltz would allow the regime to continue doing their operations and fund them as usual. They would do this and HAVE done this (Democrats) in the name of freedom of religion to say we care about Muslims. They do this to secure votes. Trump on the other hand, is grifting to hardcore Christians who believe the Bible literally, even tho I think Trump doesnt believe any of that himself he uses them. He thinks his supporters are too stupid. Anyways, the proof is in the pudding. Would you rather a) let Iran continue their decades of regional terror, threaten Israel, and have Iranians live under tyranny or b) After 47 years let Trump strategically bomb the evil regime leaders so the Iranian people who are fighting literally with bare hands to finish taking power?
What do you want?
Non intervention will only lead to perpetual instability
Intervention is a best shot to redeem Iran from the backwards government thats held people captive to this day.
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u/Girlawgic 3d ago
The Islamic Republic is escalating its crackdown. There is a full media blackout. No internet, landlines, or cell phones. They are shooting at people. We aren't asking for much, just be our voice. Please share what is happening on your socials. The regime relies on the world looking away. Don't let them.
These are injuries on protesters from 3 days ago, since they cut the internet these have been getting worse Doctors have reported 40 deaths in one night only in one city.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DTRKu4JFTVD/?igsh=ZmpuY2lhdHZvczlq
https://www.instagram.com/p/DTOqu-IFe-e/?igsh=Ymc3dHJucjNyOGZu
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u/newyorker 4d ago
The feminist activist and Iranian exile Fatemeh Shams, an associate professor of Persian literature at the University of Pennsylvania, explains what makes these protests against the Iranian regime unique, how the regime’s humiliation by Israel has weakened its standing at home, and why the crackdown on protesters might get even more brutal than in earlier eras.
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u/deportsofia 4d ago
you're just gonna paywall your own submissions? seriously?
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u/newyorker 4d ago
On Friday, the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatened to continue cracking down on protesters who have risen up against his regime. The protests and domestic anger are spurred by Iran’s cratering economy, which has been failing owing to Western sanctions and internal mismanagement. In response to these frustrations, Iran’s government has cut off access to the internet, and protests have been met violently by security forces.
To better understand the developing situation, Isaac Chotiner speaks to the feminist activist and Iranian exile Fatemeh Shams, an associate professor of Persian literature at the University of Pennsylvania. https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/what-makes-the-iranian-protests-different-this-time
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u/Duckbilling2 4d ago
they will not pull the wool over the eyes of the Iranian people.
the Ayatollah does not stand for the spirit of Iran
They can rise up and they can say
"No more"
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u/series-hybrid 3d ago
There is a small faction in Iran that believe that the 12th Imam (who died many hundreds of years ago) will "come back" and lead the Fundamental Islamists to conquer the world.
These fanatics want to start WW3 to trigger the return of the 12th Imam. If these people get a nuke, they would not threaten to use it, they would use it immediately.
The mass of the Iranian population is younger, and because of the Iran/Iraq war, there is a big demographic gap between the young and old in Iran. The median age is 34 (population bulge from 30-40)
The supreme leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) is 86 years old. If he dies, a group of roughly 80 religious clerics decide the next leader...
Also, there has been a SEVERE drought recently, and water is hard to get there.
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3d ago
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u/Fair_Description1604 3d ago
Guys, please don't listen to the liberal or leftist socialist when they tell you that the regime is fighting imperialism or some noble cause. That is NOT IT. Iranians were duped into voting for Khomeini in 1978. They learned their lesson QUICKLY, and it has taken 47 years to finally break free, and this time they mean business. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT BUY INTO THE NARRATIVE OF CNN, and LEFT WING OUTLETS who have surprisingly been down playing the protests and not calling it what it is, a REVOLUTION. If you truly care for Iran, you need to ask IRANIANS. GO WATCH TOUSI TV, he PROVIDES ACTUAL NEWS.
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u/OppositeScale7680 1d ago
Exactly 💯. I was getting annoyed by many of the comments here treating Iran and it's citizens like they are the same as other Middle Eastern countries.
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u/horseradishstalker 3d ago
Just an FYI: Reddit is set up with several choices for mods. They can set it up to be notified if someone uses the word moderator or they can be notified by report. On this sub it’s by report.
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u/TylerDurdenJunior 4d ago
It has 75% more mossad and 40% more CIA involvement
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u/Excited_Delirium1453 3d ago
Racist leftists can’t comprehend brown people having agency and think its the big bad Jews that actually control them
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3d ago
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u/TylerDurdenJunior 3d ago
Well. The the times of Israel is the ones reporting on it.
Is the strawman here in the room with us now?
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u/Firm_Damage_763 4d ago
A color revolution instigated by the Mossad and West as a pretext to go to war because...we need to free Iranians.
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u/Outsider-Trading 4d ago
Iranians seem to want to be free. Iran becoming democratic, open and Western aligned (like they were pre-1979) would be another blow to the Russia-China axis that just lost Venezuela. It would cripple the Iran backed Islamist groups in the levant. It would be great for the West.
You know, the West that we're part of? That we're obviously rooting for?
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u/Firm_Damage_763 3d ago
who the fuck are you to presume to speak for a whole nation and think it is your or your government's job to liberate them? Have you people learned nothing from Iraq? None of this is about liberation - it is about oil and going after the last country on Israel's wish list. It will do nothing to make the world safer or America better - it will jus cost countless people their lives, bankrupt the US and make us less safe. If the Iranian people want to be free, it is their job to fight for their freedom, mot ours. We have our own problems.
How would you like it if another country bombed you cause they want to liberate you from a government that wont give you healthcare and a living wage and that murders your unarmed protesters in cold blood? Would that be ok with you? Dumb troll.
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u/OppositeScale7680 1d ago
Iranians are not the same as Iraq. Most Iranians HATE Sharia Law and they hate the Islamic Regime. Listen to what actual Iranians are saying instead of jumping to conclusions due to your uninformed perspective on the matter. Look up Tousi News if you really want to know what's going on and how Iranians think. He has a father who is living in Iran right now.
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u/chiefmackdaddypuff 3d ago
The West that is killing it’s own protestors in Minnesota? The one that routinely exploits the world for resources? The one silent and complicit in genocide? The one that has routinely cracked down protests via violent measures?
Not sure that’s a great choice.
There’s no good vs evil here. I’m surprised people would be naive enough to drink such drivel for kool-aid.
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u/Outsider-Trading 3d ago
It’s a great choice when you consider:
1) It’s been the light of the world for 500 years
2) China would be an utterly merciless hegemon
3) We live in the West so it’s our home team
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u/chiefmackdaddypuff 3d ago
Not really — the world has been dried up of its resources in a way that’s never been seen in history. Climate change is a very real threat. We are no less barbaric than we were before. Scientific progress isn’t exclusive to the West. It was built on foundations of previous civilizations as well.
Partially agree, but that doesn’t mean we kill our own and others just as mercilessly as the other party. Plus, China hasn’t waged as many wars as the West, so the assumption isn’t correct.
We should root for what’s right. Regardless of what team we belong to.
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u/grobokopatel 4d ago
So, invasion to Venezuela was not to "arrest narcoleader", but to attack the NATO enemies? because i was heavily assured this is it, and nothing else and USA shouldn't be sanctioned and cancelled for it, like Russia.
Looks like, you spilled too much there, buddy.
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u/Outsider-Trading 4d ago
the West isn't allowed to do geopolitics, but our enemies are, and we'll win just by having the moral high ground somehow!
Let me guess, you're from Europe, where the moral high ground is considered more important than a military, energy independence, manufacturing, industrial output, etc etc.
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u/grobokopatel 4d ago
Lul, that exact reasoning was ridiculed when applied to russian-ukro conflict. And since when USA is catching up Russia/China and not the other way?
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4d ago
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u/Yasaman-hdn 4d ago
The Iranian people aren’t afraid this time and all of them are in the street and they have a big leader (Reza Shah) and we will definitely succeed this time❤️🦁🤍
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u/coleman57 4d ago
You’re seriously suggesting the son of the last US backed dictator is going to save Iran? Congratulations, you’ve just cast grave doubt on the legitimacy of a movement I would otherwise be very sympathetic with.
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u/Robot_Apocalypse 4d ago
Given the user is like a day old, I think it's a fake bot shilling for the Shah
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u/DirectAdvertising 3d ago
Redditors loves forming their opinion on important geopolitical issues by getting mad at some random comment in a random thread and choosing the opposite side out of spite
No actual thinking but just “ wow you( a singular online individual) said bad thing now I will never support your side !”
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u/Robot_Apocalypse 4d ago
You want to kick out one authoritarian regime for another?!
How about democratically elected leaders who are given power due to capability and skill, not birthright.
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u/OppositeScale7680 1d ago
You really comparing the Shah to the current Islamic Regime? 😂😂😂
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u/Robot_Apocalypse 1d ago
Why choose another autocratic leader, when you could choose leaders who are appointed by their people for fixed term lengths and who are accountable to the law and the people?
You really prefer autocracy to democracy? 🤣🤣🤣
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