![\"iran-friday-prayers-14052022\"](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/iran-friday-prayers-14052022.jpg\" "\\"iran-friday-prayers-14052022\\"")
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Food prices are increasing in Iran, and so do protests across the country. Videos obtained by the Iranian opposition confirm the escalating unrest in the country. Since the November 2019 uprising, Iranian streets have become flashpoints for demonstrations.<\/p>\n
Iran has experienced its worst economic crunch in the past century, and people cannot afford a meager living.\u00a0In the past few months, Iranian cities have witnessed thousands of protests of different scales, with people demanding their rights and underlining that \u201conly on the streets we can achieve our rights.\u201d<\/p>\n
But the protests that broke<\/a> out a week ago in different cities are the broadest display of an economy in ruins, a volatile society, and a desperate regime that gives bullets and tear gas to people who want food and water.<\/p>\n Yet, it would be parochial to say protests in Iran merely have economic roots. The regime\u2019s decades-long oppression has turned Iran\u2019s society into a powder keg.<\/p>\n The current situation in Iran has indeed frightened the regime officials and state media, who use every opportunity to warn about an uprising, intimidate people, demonize the opposition, and partially acknowledge the country\u2019s economic woes.<\/p>\n Ahmad Khatami, Tehran\u2019s Friday Prayer leader, acknowledged Iran\u2019s economic crisis but brazenly blamed the monarchy.<\/p>\n \u201cOur country\u2019s economy is sick, but this has not happened overnight,” Ahmad Khatami said. “It started before the 1979 revolution. Our officials have tried vigorously to address these issues, but sometimes they have failed!\u201d<\/p>\n The Shah\u2019s regime was indeed a corrupt dictatorship that seriously damaged Iran, but one cannot forget that the mullahs\u2019 regime has been in power for four consecutive decades.\u00a0 The regime has harshly oppressed and unscrupulously plundered the national wealth. The regime\u2019s so-called economic efforts have not exceeded bogus claims.<\/p>\n The regime\u2019s founder Ruhollah Khomeini promised free electricity and water, and the new president Ebrahim Raisi talked of eradicating poverty in two weeks. Perhaps these bogus claims could be considered financial efforts!<\/p>\n \u201cOne cannot stand idly by or think that problems will be solved by silence and denial,\u201d the state-run Jahan-e Sanat daily acknowledged<\/a> on May 14.<\/p>\n \u201cThis situation, of course, will challenge Raisi’s government more than the people because this government promised to eradicate poverty, and having high prices is supposed to be its red line. We are in a dire situation,\u201d the paper adds.<\/p>\n \u201cIran\u2019s economy has been operated three times by three different presidents. We are now experiencing the highest inflation rate in the last few years. Iran\u2019s economy is neither capitalist nor communist or Islamic. It is based on plunder and looting,\u201d Mohammad Taghi Fazel Meiboadi, one of the regime\u2019s top clerics, acknowledged on Friday.<\/p>\n During his Friday prayer sermon, Mohammad Baqer Mohammadi Laini<\/a>, the Supreme Leader’s representative in Sari, northern Iran, said: “Iran’s economy needs to recover from this situation, and therefore, surgery is needed. But some initial tensions, which are fueled mostly by the enemies inside and outside the country, may cause problems. To succeed, we must help this government and this plan, which is supported by all three branches and the Supreme Leader.”<\/p>\n May 14\u2014Shahrekord, southwest #Iran<\/a> — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) May 14, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
Anti-regime demonstrations continue following a recent price hike in food staples.#IranProtests<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/WYd2Shki7d<\/a><\/p>\n