IS AUSTERITY REALLY TO BLAME FOR IRAN PROTESTS?

TEHRAN: Despite demonstrators chanting provocative slogans against Iran’s Islamic rulers, analysts say the roots of the current protests lie in the same anger at economic austerity that has roiled many countries.

that began in second city Mashhad on Thursday.

Though they started over high across the country and turned against the Islamic system as a whole, with chants of “Death to - bols of the regime lending them a revolutionary air.

still rooted in bread-and-butter livelihoods.

“It can be an uncomfortable Iran Business Forum.

“But what brings Iranians out on the streets most consistently uncertainty about their children’s

He blames the unrest on the austerity measures introduced by included another round of welfare budget announced a few weeks ago.

budgets with the idea that it’s a Batmanghelidj.

“But choosing years of austerity immediately after a very tough

At a cabinet meeting Sunday,

steam, the government has blamed

- line rivals of stoking the initial unrest.

from hardline clerics such as Ayatollah Ahmad Alamolhoda, who described their demands

based analyst Amir Mohebbian told the Tasnim news agency.

Collapsing banks

Nonetheless, anger over economic

An Iranian woman raises her fist amid the smoke of tear gas at the University of Tehran during a protest driven by anger over economic problems, in the capital Tehran on December 30, 2017. Students protested in a third day of demonstrations sparked by anger over Iran’s economic problems, videos on social media showed, but were outnumbered by counter- demonstrators. years, and dominated the last election in May.

- bling away: in the weeks leading on hundreds of oil workers and at bonuses being delayed.

A major groundswell of anger has also been building over the

- madinejad, lending wildly during the construction boom and col

three to four million accounts by started shutting them down.

years, we have witnessed street

right now are from the lower class, told AFP.

Right to protest

All this has combined with a wider system have created immense wealth for a narrow elite, while liberties have left few avenues for -

“Our constitution recognises - - vative Combatant Clergy Association, told the ISNA news agency.

-

doubtful that they could evolve into a serious threat to the regime.

slogans as a boon for the authorities, allowing them to crack down violent elements.

- said Mousavi.

worsen the economic situation of