In the midst of ongoing protests against the regime in the Islamic Republic of Iran, several new developments have taken place in the last days as Iran takes notice of the 44th anniversary of the 1979 revolution than brought the mullahs’ regime to power. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, issued a “limited pardon” to perhaps tens of thousands of Iranian citizens who have been arrested for protesting the killing of 22 year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s notorious morality police. The so-called pardon is full of conditions too numerous and vague to enumerate here. All that can be said is that this token gesture by the Supreme Leader seems to demonstrate the regime’s awareness of how unpopular its rule has become, especially in the wake of its brutal crackdown on widespread popular and peaceful protests.

Also marking the 44th anniversary of Iran’s 1979 revolution were statements issued by prominent opposition leaders. Former President Mohammad Khatami called for drastic changes to Iran’s government, declaring that efforts at mere reform have reached a “dead-end.” Even more radical calls for change were issued by Mir Hossein Moussavi, a leader of Iran’s 2009 Green Movement. Moussavi, who has been under house arrest since 2011, declared his support for the protest movement’s goals of removing the regime of the mullahs and instituting a new government based on democratic principles espoused by the protesters.

The current situation in Iran is unclear. While Supreme Leader Khatemei tries to portray the protest movement as largely over and contained, on the other hand, prominent opposition leaders such as Mohammad Khatami and Mir Hussein Moussavi declare the movement against the mullahs’ regime as ongoing and striking fear in governing circles. Moussavi even alleges that the military in Iran is having severe second thoughts about its support for the Islamic regime; and Moussavi urges the military to publicly withdraw its support for the current regime. Obviously, there are high stakes involved here. It is a highly combustible situation, whose outcome is unknown.

Source » berkeleydailyplanet