In a scathing article, Iran’s state-run Jomhouri Eslami newspaper issued a stark warning about the deepening economic and social crises engulfing the country. The piece reflects growing fears among regime insiders about the potential for an uprising driven by poverty and inequality, dubbing it a “revolution of the hungry.”
The editorial paints a grim picture of Iran’s economic landscape, highlighting the dire consequences of systemic corruption, class disparity, and national currency devaluation. “The national currency is the honor of a nation,” it states. “For years, this honor has been put on auction, and no action has been taken to stop its continued degradation.”
Inequality and the Spread of Aristocratic Opulence
The article condemns the pervasive inequality between Iran’s affluent elite and its impoverished majority, pointing to opulent lifestyles that rival those of pre-revolution royalty. “Look at the existing class divide between the wealthy and the lower-income groups. Some live in palaces in Tehran and other cities that far surpass the grandeur of the Shah’s former residences,” it states. “This aristocracy even owns luxurious estates in scenic areas of the country, so vast they rarely visit them, while the cost of maintaining these properties far exceeds the living expenses of impoverished citizens.”
The publication criticized how this ostentatious wealth is flaunted in stark contrast to the struggles of ordinary Iranians. “These lives of extreme luxury unfold before the eyes of the poor, who struggle to meet their daily needs,” the article notes, warning of the moral and social consequences. “As the Prophet of Islam said, ‘Poverty can lead people to disbelief.’”
Regime’s Fear Mounts as #Iranian Officials Warn of Economic Collapse and Public Outragehttps://t.co/eYd3ctUroe
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) November 24, 2024
A Betrayal of Islamic and Revolutionary Principles
The editorial laments how these economic and social conditions stand in direct contradiction to the principles of justice and equality that the Islamic Republic purportedly represents. “This un-Islamic and inhumane condition has emerged and is expanding in a society that was supposed to be the embodiment of justice,” it stated, referring to the egalitarian values of early Islamic governance.
The piece accused the regime of failing to address systemic corruption and inequality: “Can we admit that we don’t tax the wealthy but harshly punish workers and employees before they even receive their monthly wages? Can we admit that the salaries of officials in the Islamic system are exorbitant while ordinary citizens cannot cover even the first ten days of their monthly expenses?”
#Iran’s Regime Gripped by Fear and Economic Turmoil Following #Trump’s Election Victoryhttps://t.co/DI2wQTDsE7
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) November 7, 2024
A Warning of Impending Unrest
The article issues a dire warning about the potential consequences of this inequality, predicting a societal backlash against the regime. “The smallest consequence of such a society filled with discrimination and class disparity is widespread public dissatisfaction,” it states. “The result of this discontent will be pent-up anger in the hearts of the poor. One day, this pent-up anger will erupt like a volcano, unleashing the army of the deprived and the hungry against the perpetrators of this injustice. It will have no name other than the ‘revolution of the hungry.’ Are you not afraid of such a revolution?”
By raising these concerns, the state-controlled outlet reflects the growing fear within the regime over the simmering discontent among Iran’s lower classes and the potential for these grievances to ignite a mass uprising. The article concludes with a pointed question that underscores the regime’s anxiety: “Are you not afraid of such a revolution?”
