Supporting an uprising in Iran

From The Washington Post:

Five days of street protests in cities across Iran have underlined the fundamental weakness of a regime sometimes portrayed as a regional juggernaut. Protests that began in one city over rising food prices quickly mushroomed into a nationwide uprising directed squarely at the rule of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The new unrest so far differs considerably from that of 2009 in ways that probably advantage the regime. It lacks leaders or a clear agenda; the “Green Movement” grew out of protests following a presidential election that united liberal forces.

This uprising also appears to be more violent. That could give the regime a pretext for a bloody crackdown, using the Revolutionary Guard Corps or the Shiite militia forces it has marshaled for wars in Iraq and Syria.

So far the guards appear to be waiting on the sidelines while Rouhani, a relative moderate in the complex Iranian political system, offers conciliatory messages. On Sunday he recognized that the demonstrators had legitimate grievances and nominally accepted their right to protest. Western leaders should also do what they can to support peaceful protests, including by looking for ways to help Iranians communicate with one another as the regime restricts the internet.

The West must also avoid acts that would undercut the protests and empower the regime’s hard-liners. Foremost among these would be a renunciation of the 2015 nuclear accord, which President Donald Trump has promised. Reform of the nuclear accord can wait. Now is the time for Trump to focus on supporting the people of Iran.