Iran is on the brink of collapse. The regime, once thought to be unshakeable, has been weakened by economic woes, a devastating war with Israel backed by the US, and a crippling internet blackout. Mass protests have grown in size and intensity, with demonstrators demanding an end to what they call "the most heinous crime against humanity" - the executions of protesters.
Veteran war correspondent Scott Anderson says that the parallels between this crisis and the Iranian Revolution of 1978-79 are striking. The economic squeeze has hit everyone hard, from wealthy elites to ordinary citizens, making it impossible for the regime to play off one segment of society against another. The protests, once dismissed as being fueled by foreign meddling, have instead become a grassroots movement driven by genuine grievances.
Anderson believes that the Iranian opposition was initially too intimidated by the government's threats and military might, but the economic crisis has changed the dynamics. "It's huge," he says. "I've been saying for the past six months... Iran is not North Korea." The regime's brutal response to the protests, including reports of mass executions and killings, has sparked international condemnation.
Anderson thinks that the Iranian opposition is now more likely to back a military junta takeover led by the Revolutionary Guard than an overthrow of the regime. This would be a significant departure from the country's history, where clerical rule was overthrown in 1979. The prospect of Reza Pahlavi, the late shah's son, emerging as a figurehead for the opposition is also intriguing.
Anderson foresees a future where Iran has lost its status as a regional power and its economy is in shambles. "I just can't imagine things continuing on the way they have been," he says. The country's territorial integrity will be preserved, but it will likely be ruled by a military dictatorship with a veneer of democratic trappings.
The question now is what the future holds for Iran. Will the regime survive and stabilize, or will the protests bring about a new era? One thing is certain: the world will be watching closely as this crisis unfolds.
Veteran war correspondent Scott Anderson says that the parallels between this crisis and the Iranian Revolution of 1978-79 are striking. The economic squeeze has hit everyone hard, from wealthy elites to ordinary citizens, making it impossible for the regime to play off one segment of society against another. The protests, once dismissed as being fueled by foreign meddling, have instead become a grassroots movement driven by genuine grievances.
Anderson believes that the Iranian opposition was initially too intimidated by the government's threats and military might, but the economic crisis has changed the dynamics. "It's huge," he says. "I've been saying for the past six months... Iran is not North Korea." The regime's brutal response to the protests, including reports of mass executions and killings, has sparked international condemnation.
Anderson thinks that the Iranian opposition is now more likely to back a military junta takeover led by the Revolutionary Guard than an overthrow of the regime. This would be a significant departure from the country's history, where clerical rule was overthrown in 1979. The prospect of Reza Pahlavi, the late shah's son, emerging as a figurehead for the opposition is also intriguing.
Anderson foresees a future where Iran has lost its status as a regional power and its economy is in shambles. "I just can't imagine things continuing on the way they have been," he says. The country's territorial integrity will be preserved, but it will likely be ruled by a military dictatorship with a veneer of democratic trappings.
The question now is what the future holds for Iran. Will the regime survive and stabilize, or will the protests bring about a new era? One thing is certain: the world will be watching closely as this crisis unfolds.
... but then again, it's like the old saying goes - "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade"... or in this case, when life gives you economic woes and a war, just call in some backup from Uncle Sam 
. Seriously though, it's crazy to think that one of the biggest players in the Middle East could be brought down by its own hand... kinda like how I'm gonna get brought down by all these cookies on my desk 
! But for real tho, this is some intense stuff - can't wait to see what happens next 
.
The situation in Iran is getting really crazy! I mean, who would've thought that all these years later, the country would still be dealing with economic woes and protests like this 
? It's like they say: 'you can't keep a good revolution down' 
. This whole thing just feels like it's been building up for ages - first it was the sanctions, then the war with Israel, and now...now we're seeing mass executions and killings! 
The international community needs to keep an eye on this one 
Only time will tell, I guess. One thing for sure: the world is watching 
.
and can't stop falling 
, the internet is down 
, and the people are rising up 
like, who knows? 
and the world is watching 
! IRAN ISN'T NORTH KOREA, YET THEY'RE TAKING A VERY SIMILAR PATH 
. THE ECONOMIC CRISIS HAS WEAKENED THE GOVERNMENT ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE ARE FINALLY RISING UP AGAINST IT 
. I GUESS ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF THE REGIME CAN SURVIVE OR IF THE PROTESTS WILL LEAD TO A NEW ERA OF DEMOCRACY 
. ONE THING'S FOR SURE, THE WORLD IS WATCHING AND WEARING HOPE 
THAT IRAN WILL TAKE A STEP TOWARDS FREEDOM 
!
. It'll be fascinating to see if the protests bring about some kind of change or if the regime manages to hold on tight.
. I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes you gotta break things down before they can be rebuilt 
. Let's see how this all plays out... 
: 70% of Iranians believe the current government is corrupt, up from 40% last year 
. Protests have grown to 200,000+ people per week, with 500+ arrests reported 
. Economic sanctions have crippled Iran's economy by 30% since 2019 
. Iranian internet blackout has lasted for 12 months 
. Reza Pahlavi's popularity among protesters is at 60% 
.
30% in 2019, 20% in 2022, 10% now 
. Military junta takeover predicted to happen within the next 6 months 
. Iran's GDP has shrunk by 15% since 2018 
. Protester's age demographic: 50% are under 30, 40% between 31-45, with a surprising 10% being over 60 
.
US and EU have imposed sanctions on Iran, with $10B+ lost in trade 
. 60% believe Reza Pahlavi is a suitable figurehead 
the fact that protests are growing and becoming more intense is a sign of hope 
also scott anderson's point about the opposition being more likely to go for a military takeover is interesting... might be a better option for them considering the gov's track record 
scott anderson nails it 
but scott anderson's point about the opposition being more likely to back a military takeover than a full-on regime change is interesting 
it could be a way for the iranian people to take control without completely overthrowing the system... idk, i guess time will tell 
... everyone can hear it but not necessarily see it. the regime has been weakened by wars, economic woes, and internet blackouts... it's like they're trying to strangle their own people 
. maybe iran needs a new chapter 
... one where they focus on rebuilding their economy and people over politics 
And the fact that mass protests are growing in intensity, with people demanding an end to these brutal executions... it's insane how much courage those protesters must have. The parallels between this crisis and the 1978 revolution are eerie, and I'm not surprised Scott Anderson is saying Iran is no longer like North Korea. It's clear that economic desperation has given way to a genuine grassroots movement.
. The future of Iran (and us) hinges on this crisis unfolding in a way that promotes peace and stability. Fingers crossed 
! It's like, so intense. The economy, the war, the internet blackout... it's all just getting too much for me 
.
. And we're all just along for the ride 
.
. The fact that they're not just protesting against foreign interference, but actually demanding an end to executions is a big deal in my book 
.