I
ran has once again returned to the forefront of international news. For over two weeks, protests have shaken the country, despite the regime's use of extreme violence to suppress them. The demonstrations began with merchants in Tehran's Grand Bazaar protesting the collapse of the national currency, but they have quickly taken on a political dimension and become an open challenge to the regime.
This wave of protest is unfolding against a backdrop of multiple crises that have deeply undermined the Islamic Republic. First, there is an economic crisis, marked by the collapse of the middle class and growing poverty among the working classes, while an oligarchy close to those in power continues to thrive on corruption and economic rent. Then, there is a political and societal crisis, highlighted by the growing rift between a largely secularized youth – seeking freedom and equality – and an authoritarian, fundamentalist and reactionary regime. Added to this are a major ecological crisis − the result of decades of mismanagement of resources − and a geopolitical and military crisis, made worse by the shifting regional balance of power ever since the terrorist attacks of October 7 and the "12-day war" against Israel.
