Are Iran's protests different this time around?

"The unprecedented convergence of internal and external pressures makes these protests distinct. Protests are nothing new in Iran. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, the sanctions-hit country has been rocked by repeated waves of demonstrations. However, experts say the current deadly upheaval is unprecedented, due to a potent mix of rising domestic pressures and aggressive threats from the United States leaving Iran's leaders with fewer options on what to do next."

"What started on December 28 with shopkeepers protesting at Tehran's Grand Bazaar over the Iranian currency's loss of value quickly morphed into nationwide demonstrations that attracted an unusually broad social coalition. The record slump in value of the Iranian rial was just the latest in a long line of crises from water shortages and electricity outages to rising unemployment and rampant inflation that has long swallowed families' income."

"The reimposition of punishing US sanctions in 2018 made daily life harder for millions of Iranians, with many losing confidence in the authorities' capacity to improve the economy and crack down on mismanagement and corruption. The situation has been compounded by US President Donald Trump, who, in June, ordered air attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, and is now loudly threatening to attack Iran again, claiming his aim is to help protesters."

The protests in Iran have become distinct because internal economic failures converged with external threats from the United States. They began on December 28 with shopkeepers at Tehran's Grand Bazaar protesting the rial's loss of value and quickly morphed into nationwide demonstrations involving a broad social coalition. Longstanding crises include a record slump in the rial, water shortages, electricity outages, rising unemployment, and rampant inflation that have eroded household incomes. Reimposed US sanctions in 2018 deepened economic pain and weakened confidence in authorities to tackle mismanagement and corruption. Government reforms such as changing the central bank governor, ending a preferential import exchange rate, and providing a $7 monthly cash transfer failed to quell the unrest as protests widened and security forces responded.

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