Iranian Revolution

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

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.

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.

I agree with your latter point, David.

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.

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.

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....

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.

Whitewavemark2

Watch Trump

Indeed.
As far as I know the Shah’s son lives in Los Angeles, has done for most of his life, and Trump is probs backing him to become an easy way for the US to gain control of Iran.
Has happened before.
And is unlikely to be a secular democracy but more likely to be a monarchy with absolute rule as with the deposed Shah.
Am hoping thus isn’t the case and that the Iranian people will back a secular democratic leader.
They certainly deserve this.

Fallingstar

I think I meant sceptical rather than cynical. But both describe my thoughts on the ex Shah’s son.

Perhaps they genuinely believe that they will be better off

Watch Trump

I am not so sure that a revolution will happen anytime soon in Iran. The Ayatollahs seem very interested in holding on to power and it’s going to take a lot to budge them. I don’t see how demonstrations will succeed in regime change at this time. Obviously huge unrest in Iran but where does it go from here?

I used to know many Iranians and almost married one.

They are a rich and diverse culture and saw themselves as distinct from Arab and also what they saw as the culturally corrupt west. They openly hated the Shah and the Americans who supported him- they could speak openly here but were always wary of SAVAC spies.

Most of them went back to support the Islamic Revolution but were completely naive about what that would mean for themselves and their families.

I fear now that that they may swing back to the west again instead of finding their own political solutions, but that's global politics for you.

I wish the Iranian people some level of success in overthrowing that God awful theocracy and replace it with a less authoritarian style of government. Religion and politics should be separate. The people, particularly the women have had a terrible time, as they always do under misogynistic old clerics. Nothing Godly about them. Unlike us they have less of an aging society, a lot of young people who want what most young people want, their freedom.

Before we moved here 5 years ago, we lived next door to an Iranian family for 20 years, so Iran would often come up in our chats with them.

This article goes a way to explain why they want the ex Shah’s son.

www.jpost.com/opinion/article-882426

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.

All countries in that region are under military rule because there are always groups that use violence to further their aim, a change of government is not going to end authoritarian rule.

Getting sanctions removed will improve lives a great deal, democracy in the way we understand is some way off

I think I meant sceptical rather than cynical. But both describe my thoughts on the ex Shah’s son.

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.

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.

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

The people of Iran deserve better treatment than that which they have received at the hands of their leadership for many years. I hope that the current unrest brings changes for them.

There probably will be some change but the sanctions are not going to be relaxed until they give up nuclear expansion AND allow verification. It sounds simple but it’s a big climb down for Iran.

Once the Ayatolla's plane takes off for Russia, then it should be over.

People on X are posting videos of crowds in the streets in Tehran and other cities. This crowd is said to be shouting, 'Freedom, freedom, freedom!'
x.com/apostateprophet/status/2009358228036145152?s=46&t=VdUfE0uEBG3i5K_HhzIGqw

I hope they get it.

Iran is in the %#£& all round.
One of the largest lending banks went bankrupt last December.
Their water and soil are bankrupt due to exploitation.
Maybe they should have concentrated more on their soil and water rather than spending squillions o trying to build an atomic bomb.
Where has all the money gone that the Russians paid them for all those drones.
I think we all know what country won’t be handing out money when they come knocking with the begging bowl.