By Jubin Katiraie
The rial plummeted yet again, setting off a new wave of protests in Tehran and other cities in Iran on Monday and Tuesday.
The protests quickly shifted from economic concerns to demands for regime change.
Recent protests in Iran now commonly mutate into cries for the overthrow of the mullahs’ regime.
It has become very clear that the people of Iran are ready for change and will use any opportunity to make their feelings known.
This week merchants in Tehran went on strike, closing shops in the city’s Grand Bazaar and marching to the Parliament.
Their march quickly overtook the city, and within hours, protesters filled the streets of Tehran chanting, “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to Khamenei!”
The President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Maryam Rajavi, applauded the protesting merchants, saying, “The exchange crisis and unprecedented high prices, which have imposed a burdensome pressure on the overwhelming majority of the people of Iran, is the outcome of the policies of the ruling religious fascism.”
The protesters share Mrs. Rajavi’s disdain for the ruling regime’s policies. The Iranian people blame the country’s failing economy on the regime’s nuclear program and ventures in other countries in the region.
The Iranian regime has plundered the country’s wealth propping up Bashar al-Assad. Protesters chanted, “Leave Syria, think about us!”
In addition, Tehran spends alarming sums of money on security and repressive forces to prevent its people from rising up to reclaim their rights.
As the protests that began at the end of last year and continue to occur grow in number, so does the boldness and fearlessness of the Iranian people.
Protesters no longer fear suppressive forces and have become more willing to confront the regime.
Yesterday, sources in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) network heard protesters chanting, “Beware the day we pick up arms!”
The people have begun to threaten revenge against the repressive regime that has brutalized protesters for almost four decades.
The regime began to escalate its repressive measures yesterday in an attempt to quell the protests.
On Tuesday, security forces destroyed people’s belongings and blamed it on protesters in an attempt to turn the people against each other.
Security forces have attacked protesters in various parts of the city, but the people have continued undeterred.
Suppressive forces can no longer stifle the march toward freedom.
This Saturday, June 30th, the Iranian opposition will gather in Paris for their annual grand gathering.
This year’s event will be a rally in solidarity with the Iranian people’s uprising and in support of regime change.
The “Free Iran” event will provide a roadmap to Iran’s future and a viable alternative to the ruling regime.
The NCRI and the MEK are the largest and most well-organized members of the Iranian opposition, and they will meet with tens of thousands of supporters of the opposition, along with political figures, religious leaders and other prominent personalities to rally for a free Iran.
You can find more information about the “Free Iran” convention here.
