As protests erupt once more across Iran, voices from inside the country describe a nation not only burdened by economic hardship but also pushed past a psychological point of no return. Interviews with three protesters based in Tehran and other cities suggest that what began as anger over inflation and the rising cost of living has evolved into an outright rejection of the Islamic Republic’s authority.
One protester told The Jerusalem Post that Iran’s economy is “rentier and monopolistic,” dominated by a narrow elite closely aligned with the regime. According to him, both wealth and opportunity are concentrated among senior officials, influential clerics, their families, and commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). “The entire economy has been swallowed,” he said, pointing to the ever-expanding economic influence of the IRGC and powerful families with ties to the regime. Inflation, unemployment, and hunger, he added, have “destroyed society,” turning street protests into a last resort for a worn-out population.
According to him, the protests are not about ideology but about survival. “These are exhausted people,” he said. “Everyone is protesting. Everyone is grieving.” The same protester voiced hope that Israel would side with the Iranian public. He openly expressed support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called on Israel to strike the IRGC repression centers. While such remarks are uncommon, they reflect the extent of public anger, which now extends beyond borders, in seeking solutions to domestic repression. (Read More)
