MESOP REPORT IRAN : Regime Shaken as 1000s Protest in Almost All Cities Across Country

By Scott Lucas – eaworldview – December 30, 2017  – Demonstrators in Iran’s second city Mashhad – Iranian security forces try to disperse people gathering in Tehran: Hundreds gathered at Tehran University earlier in the day. Chants included “Death to the Dictator” and “People Give Their Lives for the Army. The Army Gives its Life for People.” “Dont Just Stand By, Come and Join Us”:

UPDATE 1040 GMT: Iran’s English-language State media continue to avoid any reference to the protests on Thursday and Friday.

Press TV had featured a post on Friday morning about 52 arrests in Iran’s second city Mashhad for an “illegal gathering”, but removed it by the afternoon. This morning some outlets, such as Press TV and the conservative Tasnim, are trying to proclaim regime support. They are highlighting gatherings that commemorate the “2009 Massive Pro-Establishment Rally” as the regime suppressed the Green Movement after the disputed Presidential election.Press TV declares, “Millions of Iranians across the country are commemorating the anniversary of the 2009 mass rallies that were held in support of the Islamic Republic and put an end to post-election unrest back then.”

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Iran’s regime is considering its response after a surge in protests across almost all the country’s cities on Friday.

There have been small demonstrations throughout the autumn, expressing frustration over inflation, unemployment, and corruption. On Thursday, they escalated with thousands turning out in Mashhad, Iran’s second city, and other areas in north, east, and central Iran.

Yesterday, thousands more Iranians were rallying in Kermanshah, Shiraz, Isfahan, Rasht, Qazvin, Ahvaz, and other cities. Only Tabriz was free from demonstrations, although the turnout in Tehran — where the provincial leaders are threatening a crackdown on any public dissent — was still limited to several dozen people.

Claims circulated that the escalation of the protests were an unexpected response to an effort by hardliners to embarrass President Hassan Rouhani and his Government. Reformist outlets said the hardliners had hoped to unsettle Rouhani with a show of discontent, only for a cross-section of Iranians to take the opportunity to raise their grievances.While economic issues were still highlighted in Thursday and Friday’s protests, they have been joined by political statements beyond the initial, provocative “Death to Rouhani”. In many cities, demonstrators shouted “Death to the Dictator”, a reference to the Supreme Leader, and “Don’t be afraid, we are all together”. Other chants called on Iranian leaders to focus on domestic matters and pull back from interventions in the region: “Not Gaza, Not Lebanon, I Give My Life for Iran” and “Leave Syria Alone! Take Care of Us”.

In Qom, the religious center of Iran, marchers defied Ayatollah Khamenei, “Leader Should be Ashamed and Leave the Country Alone”. In Shiraz, they shouted, “The mullah must get lost.”Demonstrators face securty forces on Friday night — “We’ll die to get Iran back”:

Regime Searches for Its Line

Caught by surprise, the regime spent Friday trying to establish a response to the demands.

Some clerics, perhaps in league with hardliners, initially expressed support for the rallies. Ayatollah Alamolhoda, the Friday Prayer Leader of Mashhad, said protesters were right to complain about lost savings: “Their protest, as well as other people’s reaction to high prices are unquestionably just.”

However, he immediately showed concern that the demonstrations had expanded, both in size and range of issues, complaining that the “West” will take advantage: “Is it right to prepare food for hostile media which have no tools to lambast us other than propagating sedition?”

The head of Masshad’s Revolutionary Court echoed, “We consider protest to be the people’s right but if some people want to abuse these emotions and ride this wave, we won’t wait and will confront them.”

First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri tried to hold the line by warning that any support of “political action” on the streets will “backfire”, and asserting that “the political movements of the country — whether reformists, fundamentalists, or moderates — and all those who are concerned about Iran…[should] solve the problems of the country together”.

As he turned his attention to the protests, President Rouhani cancelled Saturday’s planned meetings with Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani and judiciary head Sadeq Larijani.

The Supreme Leader, who last publicly spoke on Wednesday with a ritual denunciation of the US and a warning to former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has not issued a statement The regime will hope for a show of strength on Saturday with marches — planned long before this week’s developments — to mark 9 Dey, the 8th anniversary of mass counter-demonstrations to suppress the Green Movement after the disputed 2009 Presidential election. www.mesop.de