Iranian Revolution

Thanks petra, but I still don't understand why that particular man. He will be completely out of touch with Iran's set up today.

I agree with your latter point, David.

CariadAgain

Maremia

The Guardian is saying that their internet is down, and in another article, reports on some 'unrest'.

Yep....deliberately "down" - ie the outgoing government did that.

Am keeping my fingers crossed for the protestors - especially those brave women whipping off their headscarves and burning them. I've certainly been remembering it used to be a pretty modern country - until the 1970s....

It was judged to be a 'modern' country because the American's were running the place. Why? because of the oil. We can see this will happen too in Venezuela, although the culture and polical history is very different to that of Iran.

Iran or Persia is a very ancient culture with a very different identity.

I am not at all condoning the Islamic Republic but the revolution occured because of severe discontent with the US control almost from the beginning of Pahlavi rule. This came to culminate in the overthrow of the Shah in 1979. It wasn't just about headscarves, but clearly they were only worn by a minority of committed Muslim women until after the Revolution.

I shall keep an interest on how the current situation plays out, but even if the regime falls expect a great deal of unrest if not total war to follow as long as Trump, Putin and Netanyahu are around.

The Iranians are unarmed against a brutal regime shooting live rounds. Perhaps they would welcome some parachuted cannisters of small arms just as we supplied the French resistance in WW2.

this situation causes me to appreciate our beleagured Monarchy, ‘occupying a space so that others can not’

and “Not without my Daughter” - with a totally believable
Sally Field as Betty Mahmoody

I think the Iranian diaspora, especially in the US who support Reza Pahlavi, have been spurring Iranians on to revolt, though many other Iranians who don’t support Pahlavi have been on the streets as well with their own agendas.
Although there are many Iranians who think Pahlavi should come back and rule Iran as a Monarch, there are also many who definitely don’t want this and would prefer a democratically elected secular government.
I think the only grounds upon which both sides could possibly agree would be if Pahlavi returned as a royal figurehead with a government headed by a PM, as in the UK.
His father had absolute rule after Mossadegh the PM was ousted by the Americans and the British during operation Ajax. This mistake should not be repeated if a return is planned imho.

The US has masked, armed men in their cities racially profiling and harassing people. It used its own military to police its citizens, against its own Constitution.

The CIA is no doubt on the ground in Iran doing what it always does. The US needs to worry about its own revolution if they keep giving license to Trump’s paramilitary to shoot people.

BlessedArt

The US has masked, armed men in their cities racially profiling and harassing people. It used its own military to police its citizens, against its own Constitution.

The CIA is no doubt on the ground in Iran doing what it always does. The US needs to worry about its own revolution if they keep giving license to Trump’s paramilitary to shoot people.

I agree that the US is not in any way able to take the moral high ground. What ICE are presently doing to innocent citizens in the US smacks of what certain militias allied to the regime are doing to innocent Iranians.
Maybe not on the same scale, but certainly similar.

I was in the company of some Iranians last night very briefly. I asked about the family back home and they said all communication is down and they have no way of knowing if their family is safe or not.
I expressed my solidarity to them and they were very appreciative. When we see things on a small scale and not through the lens of the media we realise how devastating these things can be.
Not all Iranians are fundementalist Muslims, neither are they all rampant Capitalists. Most just want to get on with their lives in peace, just as we do.

MaizieD

Fallingstar

Maremia

It's a bit strange that some of the protestors are chanting for the return of the ex-Shah's exiled son, as leader.

I agree. Seeing as the Shah was a dictator shoehorned in by the US whose secret police were known for their brutality.
Perhaps the son is offering something better for the people than his father did.
But am rather cynical about this.

I can't help suspecting that the generality of Iranian people are as bad at judging potential leaders as people in other countries.

I think most people are just driven by hope that change will bring improvement in their daily lives.

I think is down to the Iranian people to decide who they want, but these brave people deserve much better than the Islamic thugs in charge at the moment. Let's hope Pahvli learned to be better than his father.
Strange really, Iranian women throwing off their hijabs, welcoming the freedom that it brings. Yet here in the UK 😔.
I do hope Starmer let's non of that regime in here.

keepingquiet

I was in the company of some Iranians last night very briefly. I asked about the family back home and they said all communication is down and they have no way of knowing if their family is safe or not.
I expressed my solidarity to them and they were very appreciative. When we see things on a small scale and not through the lens of the media we realise how devastating these things can be.
Not all Iranians are fundementalist Muslims, neither are they all rampant Capitalists. Most just want to get on with their lives in peace, just as we do.

Iran is a pseudo Religious/Military dictatorship there are no free elections no way to change anything. The problem the threat Iran poses to neighbours and beyond for religious fundamentalism. The lives of Iranians would improve immensely if sanctions are lifted all the have to do is stop threatening others, but doing that the fanatical leadership would loose power.
China would loose all that cheap oil so they have no interest in changes in Iran

Fallingstar

Maremia

It's a bit strange that some of the protestors are chanting for the return of the ex-Shah's exiled son, as leader.

I agree. Seeing as the Shah was a dictator shoehorned in by the US whose secret police were known for their brutality.
Perhaps the son is offering something better for the people than his father did.
But am rather cynical about this.

Nothing could be worse than what they have now, particularly for women.
Iranians want to be able to earn enough for a good lifestyle and a more liberal lifestyle too.
This won’t happen until the mullahs are overthrown.
But if DT is serious about this he would be advised to crack on with it right now to help the people otherwise it will fizzle out.

The regime is ruthless and armed. The people are not armed. Perhaps the US should drop canisters of small arms and anti-tank devices as we did in WW2 for the French resistance. and Iranian mothers should tell their sons in the police and army not to fire on unarmed civilians.

At Last! The women in that country need this.

David49

ronib

The Supreme Leader is yet to show his hand in the way he brings the demonstrations under control.
He will not be asking Trump for his opinion. However by threatening to intervene, Trump has become a possible influence in controlling the number of deaths. But if Trump decides to become militarily involved, that argument won’t hold as total deaths will rise including US troops.

There won’t be US boots on the ground Trump is capable of creating enough chaos attacking military targets in Iran, I’m sure Israel would love to find an excuse to join in.

So Iran threatens Israel, any excuse, if America strikes Iran.
So you expect Israel to sit back and take it.
Iran has always threatened Israel, as I say, any excuse.

Irans's mistakes was to think it deserved a place at the nuclear arms table.

Ukraines's mistake was to leave it.

Hundreds now reported dead and injured. Fact checking is still difficult as the Internet is down.

Yes keepingquiet, if only Ukraine had not trusted the USA and Russia with their safety.

My brother worked in Iran for two years on the 70s when the Shah was still in power and I visited for three weeks! It is a beautiful cultural country with stunning scenery and intricate mosques ( Isfahan especially) ! My brother had to leave just as the ayatollah took control and it was terrible as everything changed over night! Iranians deserve to be able to choose their leaders democratically and I feel that this unrest will escalate even further ! Brave people !

Maremia

Hundreds now reported dead and injured. Fact checking is still difficult as the Internet is down.

So sad, and so brave, when footage was coming out of Iran people were still surging forwards despite the efforts of the authorities to stop them. They know they could be killed. There are no words.

Apart from the Shah’s son, are there any other potential leaders to take over if and when the mullahs go to Russia. I don’t see Pahlavi as a viable leader acceptable to many Iranians. I hope this revolution is successful but I read that many have already been killed and the theocracy/kleptocracy running the country have too much to lose.

Probably now is the time when Trump will take action, or not as the case may be, the US will have intelligence what is happening. To make any difference it’s got to be decisive.

Freya5

MaizieD

Fallingstar

Maremia

It's a bit strange that some of the protestors are chanting for the return of the ex-Shah's exiled son, as leader.

I agree. Seeing as the Shah was a dictator shoehorned in by the US whose secret police were known for their brutality.
Perhaps the son is offering something better for the people than his father did.
But am rather cynical about this.

I can't help suspecting that the generality of Iranian people are as bad at judging potential leaders as people in other countries.

I think most people are just driven by hope that change will bring improvement in their daily lives.

I think is down to the Iranian people to decide who they want, but these brave people deserve much better than the Islamic thugs in charge at the moment. Let's hope Pahvli learned to be better than his father.
Strange really, Iranian women throwing off their hijabs, welcoming the freedom that it brings. Yet here in the UK 😔.
I do hope Starmer let's non of that regime in here.

Think it's the Austrian prime minister that is urging that Austrian women should wear headsquares in their own country!!!!! - in solidarity with Middle Eastern women living in their country with them.

Words fail me! Other than anyone who tries that lark in our country would obviously not have much sense of self-preservation.

He looks as if he is an Austrian himself at that!!

keepingquiet

Irans's mistakes was to think it deserved a place at the nuclear arms table.

Ukraines's mistake was to leave it.

Ukraine didn’t willingly give up their nuclear weapons.
They were assured that in the event of a Russian attack they would be protected.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crl3ndxglwxo

CariadAgain
Exactly what does an Austrian look like?