Iranians living in the conservative-majority city of Qom joined waves of anti-regime protests erupting across Iran on Sunday. Demonstrators chanted slogans bashing regime policies and chanting slogans such as “Death to Hezbollah.”
Qom residents denounced both the regime’s internal and external policy equally.
Videos posted on social media showed rallies in the capital, Tehran, and in the cities of Karaj, Shiraz, Mashhad, Isfahan, and Qom, as Iranians brace themselves for the return of US sanctions following President Donald Trump's decision in May to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.
While security forces impose tight security measures on areas with protests, especially in central Tehran, demonstrators are choosing to take to the streets in new areas with a lighter presence of security forces.
Demonstrators continued to chant slogans condemning the regime's policies and the painfully dwindling economic and living conditions.
Dozens gathered around the Calj Bridge in Tehran, Iranian Fars News Agency reported. However, the media downsized protests and labeled them as ‘quiet.’
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani positively responded to a parliamentary invitation last week to attend an accountability hearing.
Eighty members of the Iranian Parliament tabled a motion in an open session on August 1st to question Rouhani about his administration’s economic policies and reactions to the country’s ongoing economic crisis.
Rouhani declared his willingness to present before lawmakers and “expose the truth to people.”
In recent days, Rouhani has not been able to dispel reproval by Iranian newspapers, critical of his policy or even at times supportive but demanding. Some reformist newspapers asked Rouhani to break his silence and talk to citizens.
Last week, the Iranian president's office announced canceling a televised address to the people about the deteriorating currency situation and the economic downturn.
In the meantime, the Iranian judiciary announced arresting Iranian central bank's top foreign exchange official Ahmad Araghchi against the backdrop of a plummeting Iranian Rial, and as tensions rise in advance of the imminent return of US sanctions.
