BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, November 29, 2024, Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director
Iran’s regime is experiencing mounting fears of collapse as its economic and social crises deepen. Official warnings from parliamentarians and state media underscore the escalating nationwide discontent fueled by skyrocketing inflation, power outages, and unaffordable basic goods. With no solutions in sight, the regime is rapidly losing its grip on power.
The state-run Jomhouri Eslami newspaper recently sounded the alarm, stating, “Each day, the economic crisis worsens… These suppressed grievances will one day erupt into a volcano, mobilizing the army of the deprived and the hungry against the perpetrators of this injustice.” This stark acknowledgment underscores the regime’s fears of an imminent uprising driven by economic despair.
Indeed, under Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration, inflation has spiraled out of control. State-run ILNA news agency recently reported that the cost of living has risen by at least 40%, with some essentials seeing even higher price hikes. Parliamentarian Rouhollah Mousavi starkly noted, “People’s tolerance has plummeted. Prices rise monthly, while incomes stagnate in rials as expenses soar in dollars.”
As public unrest grows, the regime faces an increasingly effective adversary in the Resistance Units, linked to the MEK, the principal member of the sole democratic alternative, the National Council of Resistance of Iran – NCRI. These units have successfully challenged the IRGC and its affiliates through bold actions, signaling a growing shift in power dynamics. International recognition of the NCRI and its president-elect, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, continues to rise, amplifying global support for the Iranian Resistance.
The scale of public discontent and the regime’s awareness of the catastrophic consequences of its failed policies are highlighted by the Jomhouri Eslami editorial warning of a potential “Revolution of the Hungry Masses.”
As the regime’s collapse nears, the NCRI’s vision for a democratic, secular republic offers a beacon of hope for the Iranian people, emphasizing that change is not just possible, but imminent.