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Iran Is on the Brink of Revolution

Iran Is on the Brink of Revolution

By Mahmoud Hakamian

The people of Iran are continuing to take to the streets in protest against the ruling regime. The situation in the country has been worsening for months. The national currency of Iran – the rial – has dropped dramatically in recent weeks and the people are worried about what is to come.

At the beginning of the week, the first batch of U.S. sanctions took effect, with the second batch due in November. This first batch effects Iran’s access to key industries (automobiles, textiles, and so on) and its access to US dollars.
The people are angry and it is very clear in the videos coming from Iran. They are in the streets chanting “death to the dictator” and some are taking to burning police vehicles and tyres. They want major change in the country and they are determined to continue pressuring the regime until they get what they want.

There were major protests in 2009 that almost toppled the regime, but the current ones are completely different. The people are not just protesting about economic issues – they are calling for the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani.

The people know that the Iranian regime will never change and they are starting to see that revolution is very possible.

It is not just one sector of society that it taking to the streets – it is all classes. The people are getting poorer and poorer and less people are able to afford the most basic of amenities that are rapidly rising in price. The already struggling are having an even harder time and breaking point has been reached.

The Trump administration has voiced its support for the people of Iran, but the European leaders have failed to react. The Europeans are more concerned about keeping the Iranian regime happy so that the 2015 nuclear deal remains intact. They are scrambling to maintain business and investment opportunities in Iran to counteract the effect of the U.S. sanctions.
However, many multinational companies are not keen on defying the United States and have simply stopped trading with Iran. The US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, said: “We are pleased to see German businesses stopping their trade with Iran, complying with U.S. sanctions, and helping pressure the Iranian regime back to the table. We stand together to stop Iran’s malign activities.”

The brave people of Iran are putting themselves at great risk. Every time they take to the streets they are risking arrest, torture, imprisonment, and even execution.

It is only a matter of time before the regime is finally toppled, but it is essential that the people have the support of the international community and especially the leaders of the West. The 2009 uprising would have resulted in the overthrow of the regime had it not been for the silence of the West.

It is our responsibility to ensure that the people of Iran can one day enjoy the same freedoms and rights that those of us in free countries enjoy every day.