Tehran protests in 2009 were an unexpected surprise not because the Iranian regime has no rivals in its circle but rather because protesters who threatened the regime come from within the core of its system.
Tens of thousands, for days, and protests could only be halted by the use of weapons and bloodshed.
Now, protests came out from various directions. They stem from cities such as Mashhad and continue spreading with slogans against Ali Khamenei and the state’s policies. The slogans echoed throughout Iran.
Popular protests might not kill the regime but will certainly embarrass it. Khamenei and his political and military leaders thought that promoting their victories in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon would grant them popularity and therefore extend their presence.
But the tables have turned and most protesters in the past two days deplored the interference in foreign affairs, its funding and the government’s lack of assuming responsibility within the country.
Four years ago when the Iranian involvement in the Syrian war started, a number of deputies warned ever-excited general for wars Qasem Soleimani that the state can’t endure costs of his adventures and won’t accept that the Iranian men return wrapped and ready for their coffins fighting for other regimes and fighting other people’s war. Soleimani responded that his war in Iraq and Syria are for defending Iran’s security and regime.
His words weren’t enough to justify the losses, so he bragged that the war to defend the Islamic Republic and Vilayat Al-Faqih is no more costing Iran much. He worked on establishing militias of poor refugees in Iran including Afghans and Pakistanis. He also took in Iraqis and nearly 20,000 Lebanese nationals from Hezbollah. The number of Iranian militants was a couple of thousands who conduct operations of training, intelligence and leadership.
Soleimani bragged that he didn’t cost the Iranian treasury much, some billion dollars, and the invoice was mostly paid by Iraq which was obliged to fund the Iranian war. Iraq paid for the fighting militias, along with Iran's annual commitments to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. But when the oil prices steeped, Iraq abstained from paying most of them.
Iran is a state comprising of around nine million people and depends mainly on oil income. The country, like all other countries in the petroleum region, is suffering. Iran is an enclosed state suffering under the authority similar to Muammar Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein in the past.
These authorities relied on security bodies, restricted communication, and bank transfers, and imposed huge fines on international travel. They had large and expensive networks of militias and terrorist organizations around the world from Malaysia to Argentina.
Yes, Iran is an advanced state in military productions when compared to countries in the region. Yet, it remains among the poor states – a dilemma similar regimes are facing, such as Cuba, North Korea, Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Eastern Germany, Libya, Southern Yemen, Syria and others. These regimes have failed because they focused on security and military superiority alone while they remained poor states in all other aspects.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps does not run security, but controls every other minute detail. It also increased its influence during the term of former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, during which it took over major economic organizations, including oil refineries.
It is normal that the day will come when the Iranian regime faces the wrath of the majority which supported its arrival in power 40 years ago and believed their lives would become better but actually worsened.
The Iranian people being able to challenge the repressive regime at the current time is highly unlikely. However, with their sporadic upheavals, they are showing the world a different picture. Khamenei’s Republic militias may have made their way to Damascus, Mosul, Beirut, Gaza and Sanaa, however, they are unable to gain control of Mashhad.
