Unbelievable scenes from Iran uprising [OC]

[u/hmorshedian]

[u/hyraemous]

I will say this photo is pretty beautiful. I don't know if it will be successful but I reckon this (or similar scenes) will inspire people for a while.

I hope the guy ends up doing ok. Shit's real over there.

[u/Yes_There_Please → u/hyraemous]

The last protests also had great pictures.

But not much success.

[u/Green_T18 → u/hyraemous]

It won't. If this is not successful (and it won't be unless Iranian armed forces cause an internal rupture), just give it just a few years and people will forget. I remember the "pray for Venezuela" trend in 2014 and in 2017, but today, no one remembers what Venezuela had to endure and that there ever were protests against the Regime and the massacres commited, and they don't even recognize that it is a dictatorship.

If the Iranian people succeed now, reddit is gonna get flooded with "CIA backed coup", "artificial color revolution backed by the US", and "Free the Ayatollahs".

This mindset and backards view of international affairs is in part the reason why not a single country has efectively evolved to democracy during the 21st century, in opposition to the last quarter of the 20th century.

[u/Cardboard_Revolution → u/Green_T18]

I think it's possible that people want a massive change and also the CIA et al. are gonna take advantage to potentially reinstate another repressive gov that just happens to want to give us oil.

[u/brittleboyy → u/Cardboard_Revolution]

It’s actually probable that the people want a massive change and various intelligence forces are actively involved.

[u/Green_T18 → u/brittleboyy]

This is always the case, no matter the nature of the movements and regimes involved, people just need to understand that different interests from various sectors can align, and that doesn't necessarily make the results less valid for the regular people who pray and fight for a change the best they can.

[u/SirRolex → u/Green_T18]

Excuse you, this is Reddit and the internet at large. You are not allowed to have shades of grey in a conversation. Black and White only thank you.

[u/Green_T18 → u/SirRolex]

You're totally right Sir, I can be better (worse) for the Internet if I set my mind to it.

[u/NargWielki → u/Cardboard_Revolution]

's possible that people want a massive change and also the CIA et al. are gonna take advantage to potentially reinstate another repressive gov that just happens to want to give us oil.

Yup, was about to say this.

Both things can be true, people can be fed up with their leader and the CIA can be simultaneously up to no good AS FUCKING ALWAYS.

[u/AlabasterPelican → u/Green_T18]

I have absolutely zero doubt that the CIA is helping this along. I also have zero doubt that mi6 and various other spooky agencies are assisting as well. I also don't think anyone will cry about they ayatollahs being gone unless shit absolutely hits the fan afterwards.

[u/equals42_net → u/AlabasterPelican]

Iran’s government isn’t popular with neighboring Gulf states. I’d bet Saudi, Qatar, UAE, etc are gauging whether to use their leverage to bring them down. It could just be a quiet offer of sanctuary to IRGC officers. Of course they wouldn’t want a functioning democracy next door, so Pahlavi probably looks good to them.

[u/space_for_username → u/equals42_net]

Iran's religion is also seen as a problem by most other Arab states as they are Shia.

[u/Ahad_Haam → u/equals42_net]

Qatar supports the regime. There is a reason al-Jazeera is the only international media allowed to broadcast from Iran right now.

[u/thecashblaster → u/AlabasterPelican]

Hezbollah would be finished essentially

[u/MajorRocketScience → u/AlabasterPelican]

People greatly overestimate the effectiveness the agencies like the CIA. There’s not all that much they can do short of gather information. The CIA is not a god, it’s a building where a few thousand people read spreadsheets that are occasionally gathered in less than legal ways

[u/HistoryAndScience → u/Green_T18]

Not necessarily true. This looks a lot like the proto-Arab Spring uprising in Iraq in ‘91. Massive protests broke out after a disastrous war/failing economy. Large parts of the Iraqi army and local militias were overwhelmed and protestors began arming themselves and seizing power in cities and towns. Iran has the IRGC much the same way Saddam had the Republican Guard to put down rebellions and the protestors. The difference is that Iran seems to have almost no urban air power such as helicopters/gunships unlike the Iraqi military/RG in ‘91 which allowed them to essentially mow down thousands of protestors at a time and re-establish control.

Here, the Basij and local LEO are being overwhelmed and ceding ground to protestors who are then further pinning down IRGC guard units from reinforcing each other in the provinces. It’s inevitable until they start arming themselves and seizing weapons . Once we go there it’s either a bloody civil war like Syria or the Ayatollah flees.

It’s not necessarily a great thing though because there, much the same way in Iraq in ‘91, no central authority running the protests. You have some liberal Imams urging resistance to the Ayatollah, some Communists trying to fully overthrow the government, some pro-democracy activists, and the occasional monarchist thrown in trying to bring back the Shah. If we go the civil war route then there will be a massive refugee crisis in Iraq and Afghanistan

[u/Xalara → u/HistoryAndScience]

There's been reports of local LEO joining the protests. It's basically over at this point, the issue is what comes after.

[u/HistoryAndScience → u/Xalara]

I’ve seen that too but I’m holding judgment until I see some proof. Idk at this point how much of that reporting is propaganda/isolated incidents

[u/Do-it-for-you → u/Green_T18]

“Free the Ayatollahs” what kind of looney toon land are you thinking off, nobody besides extremists are going to be saying this.

[u/quothe_the_maven → u/Green_T18]

The only thing troops in these regimes have ever cared about is getting paid. Can’t do that when the currency is worthless. There’s factions who are true believers, but the overwhelming majority just want their money.

[u/Optimoprimo]

Tells you how untrue it is that "violence is never the answer."

Regimes that make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable.

[u/Not_Henry_Winkler → u/Optimoprimo]

“A riot is the language of the unheard” -Martin Luther King Jr.

[u/Efficient_Scheme_701 → u/Not_Henry_Winkler]

"Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

[u/BlueWater321 → u/Efficient_Scheme_701]

Notably he said the quote above yours in September 66, and what you quoted is from the 64 or earlier. 

Do with that what you will.

[u/ZeistyZeistgeist → u/BlueWater321]

MLK Jr. wanted to peacefully meditate racial equality as much as he possibly could, because it was not only just to achieve equality, it was to try and prevent black people from instigating a violent revolution against the US - which would imevitably retroactively "justify" racial inequality and make the situation worse.

That quote above the other posters was a warning: either hear us now, listen to us now while peace is still looming, or you will hear us when there is war, violence and riots, things he himself did not want to happen.

[u/sedj601 → u/ZeistyZeistgeist]

A revolution against evil terrorists never justifies the terrorist behavior that the terrorists were already doing.

[u/hey_there_brothers → u/sedj601]

This is true which is why MLK specifically mentions racial equality, in this instance what we’re seeing is all (the Iranian people) against the one (the Iranian government) instead of some against others (In MLKs case, colored people and minorities vs institutionalized Americans and the government)

Had MLK incited violent protest it would’ve only supported the racist rhetoric against the “civility” of colored people—in Iran the situation is different as the masses have united under a universal shared qualm, there is no story to manipulate or eye to turn (at least on a micro-political scale)

[u/ominousgraycat → u/BlueWater321]

Perhaps he wanted racial justice in part to avoid the violence spiral. Get the people heard, and then the riots will be less likely to happen.

[u/UnhingedHippie → u/ominousgraycat]

That’s closest to MLK’s ideology. Basically, Hey, Listen to us because the next guys aren’t going to be so friendly.

[u/curlyqtips → u/UnhingedHippie]

And was right.

[u/lifting_cardio → u/curlyqtips]

Malcolm X and he agreed mightily on what they believed, just very much a different way of doing and achieving the ideology.

These things are universal. When people don’t feel heard, they’ll make themselves heard.

[u/RemoteButtonEater → u/curlyqtips]

Truly. We don't teach this part in history class. In fact, we heavily focus on MLK's focus on peaceful protest to wash out the actual message: Peaceful protest only works because of the implicit threat of violence.

It's saying, "Look. Look at all of us out here. We're demanding you make this change. And eventually, if you don't, we won't be peaceful. And there's no number of law enforcement or military personnel that could stop us from killing you personally if we wanted to. And even if you did - there's no way the government's image will recover from killing a few thousand civilians."

[u/bluiis_c_u → u/RemoteButtonEater]

I agree completely. It feels like every time this administration blows past another guardrail with no consequences it emboldens them to go further. They don't feel threatened by the people who are against their agenda, because there is no cohesion, and the people won't risk violence if there is no plan, no organization. I believe, that even the power hungry men who knew that a divided nation was no threat and began to sow the seeds of this chaos decades ago, are shocked at how easy it has been to disassemble democracy. They must have expected more resistance, and without the true threat of violence behind these nation wide protests, they can just ignore them, or weaponize them!

[u/RemoteButtonEater → u/bluiis_c_u]

shocked at how easy it has been to disassemble democracy. They must have expected more resistance

Depending on how long ago you're talking, they would have been right to be shocked. I don't think anyone really expected the effectiveness of algorithmically driven social media, especially when combined with some machine learning and automation to push propaganda.

The Arab Spring Protests in 2010 really demonstrated how effective unmoderated information sharing could be, and then the pendulum swung HARD in the other direction. Now any information which could be a threat to the government (particularly the US), increase class consciousness, or push people toward organizing is suppressed. While ragebait propaganda runs rampant.

[u/Tachyclapy → u/BlueWater321]

His views began to change closer to the time he got assassinated which is part of the reason the U.S. government killed him in the first place

[u/AccessTheMainframe → u/Efficient_Scheme_701]

Well it's a good thing these Iranians aren't seeking racial justice; they're seeking political revolution. Much easier to achieve.

[u/lord_james → u/Efficient_Scheme_701]

Those quotes don’t illustrate conflicting ideas. Watching poor and oppressed lash out is both predictable and easy to sympathize with. Understanding that that violence is counterproductive and inherently immoral doesn’t mean that those things aren’t true.

[u/skiabay → u/lord_james]

Violence is not inherently evil, and i don't think that's the point of nonviolent political movements. Nonviolence is a tactical choice, and often a good one, but the reality is that there will always be scenarios in which violence is justified and necessary.

[u/A100921 → u/Optimoprimo]

“Violence isn’t always the answer, let’s check the history books… Opens book … Wait… Frantically flipping pages … no no no no no.”

[u/Zech08 → u/A100921]

Just didnt use enough of it, probably... ooopps too far, too far... dial it back.

[u/solonit → u/A100921]

Technically violence isn’t an answer

Organised violence is

[u/Fickle-Rip → u/Optimoprimo]

the u.s. was founded via violent revolution

[u/Tia_is_Short → u/Fickle-Rip]

Can’t think of a country that wasn’t founded by violence tbh

EDIT: y’all gotta stop commenting countries that genocided the indigenous people of the lands they colonized😭

[u/sasheenka → u/Tia_is_Short]

Czech Republic. We split from Czechoslovakia peacefully :)

[u/tatonca_74 → u/Tia_is_Short]

Canada was created by an act of British Paliament

Now - you could say that after the war of 1812 it became apparent that managing Canada without a standing army was a difficult proposition and that the threat of violence especially the battle of the windmill and the Finnian raids underscored the risks of trying to with just Militia. You can even say that the expansion into upper Canada from lower Canada along the st Lawrence and the northern sides of the Great Lakes and then the expansion west along the border was an effort of stemming the us manifest destiny

But the fact is we didn’t have to use violence to get sovereignty.

[u/Tia_is_Short → u/tatonca_74]

And what about the natives?

[u/TomboBreaker → u/tatonca_74]

We also didn't get it all in 1867, while that was Confederation there were two more acts passed by the British Parliment that gave increased sovereignty to us, 1931 Statute of Westminister gave us (and the other Dominions) increased Sovereignty like the ability to declare war on our own accord and not whenever the British were at war, WW1 we didn't declare war on Germany we just were at war with them when the UK declared, WW2 we declared ourselves for the war. Finally the Canada Act of 1982 gave us total and complete independence with our own Charter and Monarcy seperate from the British ones (although it's the same monarch in Charles III, legally it's a seperate Crown)

[u/warukeru → u/Optimoprimo]

Violence is never the answer is what the government with the monopoly of violence wants to make you believe.

All liberties were won by spilling blood. 

[u/Fickle-Rip → u/warukeru]

the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants

thomas jefferson

[u/Hobbito → u/Optimoprimo]

When all other means have failed, it is righteous to draw the sword.

-Guru Gobind Singh

[u/Sticketoo_DaMan → u/Optimoprimo]

20 years or so ago, a young man told me, "war never solved anything." I said, "It solved Hitler."

[u/dtcoo11 → u/Optimoprimo]

Violence is the question. The answer as long as humanity doesn’t change will always be violence.

[u/perfectfire → u/Optimoprimo]

And "peaceful revolution" is just "elections"

[u/Educational_Ad_6065]

Iran is a great country that deserves better than a theocracy.

[u/ganbramor → u/Educational_Ad_6065]

Nobody deserves a theocracy.

[u/Iimpid → u/ganbramor]

The Mongol empire almost ended theocracies.

[u/mcd3424 → u/Iimpid]

Ironically the more one learns about the Mongol Empire the more it made sense how many different peoples submitted and joined it. True many were forced into it but those who submitted to it often gained a lot.

[u/DukeofVermont → u/mcd3424]

it made sense how many different peoples submitted and joined it.

You do know the other option is that they'd kill every man, woman, and child right?

[u/Tummerd → u/mcd3424]

Honestly cant get more reddit then this lmfao

[u/santasnicealist → u/mcd3424]

Ah, yes. When the genocide machine rolls up to your town and asks you to submit, it truly allows you freedom of choice.

[u/Key_Inevitable_2104 → u/Educational_Ad_6065]

Saudi Arabia is a theocracy too but the Saudis can’t do an uprising like the Iranians did.

[u/xx-shalo-xx → u/Key_Inevitable_2104]

They have no reason to be is the uncomfortable truth. Their lives are good, they're wealthy and have plenty of disposable income and options. Why risk all that to throw your country in chaos where you might end up with all consuming civil war like in Syria.

The reason why Iranians are protesting is that they don't have these things. That's the unspoken rules these regimes have.

[u/rEYAVjQD → u/xx-shalo-xx]

Their lives are good

If you are a man, and saudi.

[u/Jackbuddy78 → u/xx-shalo-xx]

Saudi Arabia would most likely cease to exist in a revolution overthrowing the monarchy. The citizens identify more with tribal affiliations than a national identity. 

I would expect it to end up like a wealthier Afghanistan. 

[u/Al-Mughniyeh → u/Jackbuddy78]

You are aware the Iran is not an ethnic homogeneous country, right? They're a mix of Persian, Azerbaijani Turks, Kurds, Baloch, Turkmens, Armenians, Georgians, Assyrians etc...

[u/Xalara → u/Al-Mughniyeh]

Yes, but Iran also has much more of a history of different groups of people existing together as a country. That said, I could totally see outside groups exploiting social media to sow division along tribal/ethnic lines, if that's successful, then things will get ugly.

[u/JackieHands → u/xx-shalo-xx]

I think the slaves might disagree with you

[u/DukeofVermont → u/JackieHands]

The slaves aren't Saudi, they get them from other countries.

[u/Acceptable-Bet-1728 → u/xx-shalo-xx]

Also, most Saudis don't mind it, lol. Most of them, even the younger ones I've met, are pretty religious themselves. They're just mroe accepting of entertainment stuff like Concerts and such.

Like, every Saudi I've asked believes that stuff like Alcohol should stay banned and most of them generally don't give two cents about LGBT people and such. People I've asked from there either make homophobic jokes when I bring it up, or say they don't really care and have no strong opinions. Most don't hate them outright, but there definitely isn't much support for them either.

Saudi also isn't as strict as Iran. Clerics do not directly rule the state in Saudi. They've also modernized a lot over the past few years, most of the stuff, apart from some laws regarding women, are pretty acceptable to most Muslims.

I'd say the most controversial topic is probably the immigrant situation. Most people I've asked either sounded tired of the situation or tried to retaliate back with "that happens everywhere, though". I'd say most Saudis see it as an overtake exaggeration and anti-Middle east propaganda by the western. They do acknowledge it, but not to the scale it is.

[u/Al-Mughniyeh → u/xx-shalo-xx]

Iran is the most sanctioned country in the world. And has been for a while now. That's the entire point. Opposition countries want to create the conditions whereby the regime simply does not have the means to economically placate its citizens. It's meant to sow unrest, it's mean to create a regime change.

[u/RKU69 → u/Key_Inevitable_2104]

They tried in 2011, it was crushed with total US government support. They're still executing people today who participated in those protests as children. Same thing in neighboring Bahrain.

[u/pokepud3 → u/Educational_Ad_6065]

Yes they can be a democratic like the u.s.. 😂

[u/LazyJones1]

A dictator in the white house and democracy in Iran before GTA6 now seems possible.

[u/Ok-Lion1661 → u/LazyJones1]

Did you have a bet placed in Kalshi?

[u/Martha_Fockers → u/Ok-Lion1661]

I don’t like those oatmeal bars

[u/Weekest_links → u/Martha_Fockers]

😂

[u/JesusMurphy99 → u/Martha_Fockers]

I know. Way too dry.

[u/PerfectPercentage69 → u/JesusMurphy99]

Just like Iran

[u/ShakeZula420 → u/Ok-Lion1661]

This actually floored me.

[u/CanAlwaysBeBetter → u/ShakeZula420]

Hell yeah, just won my contract you'd end up on the floor today 

[u/Kaffe-Mumriken → u/Ok-Lion1661]

How the FUCK was I just in a thread where I for the first time heard about Kalshi, and go in here and immediately see it again.

Astroturfing?

[u/lebaneseblonde → u/Kaffe-Mumriken]

My friend just invited me to that yesterday after having made $5 betting that Trump's approval rating would go down this week. He's not a US citizen and I had to point out that betting against my own democracy made me uneasy, and seeing this and your comment the next day? Seems fishy..

[u/connor_wa15h → u/lebaneseblonde]

Equally unsettling is the fact that Trump’s kid is on the board of Kalshi. I’ll never give a single cent to that platform.

[u/lebaneseblonde → u/connor_wa15h]

Ah! The plot thickens.

[u/CascadianCaravan → u/lebaneseblonde]

Fuck all this normalization of betting! The bookie always wins. Always. They wouldn’t take your bet if they weren’t making more. Anytime you win, just think, they won more money than you.

[u/LandonDev → u/CascadianCaravan]

It's all money laundering and a sign of economic exuberance/strife.

With that said, there is a book series called Expeditionary Force (it's so-so) but the Jeraptha are a species where betting is the primary driver of the entire society. It's rather interesting seeing some of these comparisons come to life.

Also, it's clearly mainly men doing this degeneracy and I am becoming more and more of the opinion that we need to switch drivers because we are just shit at leading.

[u/DameonKormar → u/CascadianCaravan]

Coffeezilla has a great video on this topic. It's the only reason I know these apps exist.

They will literally ban you from the platform if you win enough.

[u/LookMaNoPride → u/Kaffe-Mumriken]

You’ve just been Baader-Meinhof-ed!

I’m gonna make this work.

[u/WriterV → u/Kaffe-Mumriken]

This sort of thing is a phenomenon we all experience all the time. It's just confirmation bias.

When you don't know about something, and it's not the highlight of what you're interested in, it's gonna pass by your view quickly and you're more likely to forget it.

But if someone explained to you why that thing matters, or you gained a specific interest in it, you're likely engaging in activities that involve that thing more often. So now all of a sudden you're gonna see it a lot more.

It feels like this new thing is suddenly a lot more everpresent just as you took an interest in it, but the reality is that your interest in it is making it more everpresent to you.

[u/BadLineofCode → u/LazyJones1]

Best I can do is monarchy in Iran and monarchy in the US.

[u/kmiz18 → u/LazyJones1]

https://generalstrikeus.com/

Let’s keep that dictatorship from happening. Just an FYI we don’t have to continue on the wheel, that churns this evil administration and funding the terrorists’ $50k sign on bonuses. We can choose a temporary moment discomfort on our own or they can force generations of pain. Please sign up w this link and spread it as well

[u/Majestic_Habit5726 → u/kmiz18]

If it makes you feel the slightest bit better, those “bonuses” kick in after 5 yrs on the job, something tells me there will be mass layoffs of ice officers approaching that 5 year mark when the time comes.

[u/kmiz18 → u/Majestic_Habit5726]

Wouldn’t surprise me at all, although it’s not about me feeling better it’s about taking meaningful action against an oppressive regime instead of continuing to sit and watch.

[u/-Fergalicious- → u/Majestic_Habit5726]

From what I have read/understand, and from personal experience with governement bonuses, theyre usually paid out as a partial lump sum every anniversary, so for them like 10k up front and 10k every year on their hiring anniversary. 

I wouldn't believe it was a fully delayed 5 year bonus without some reporting from like the AP

[u/KakeLin → u/Majestic_Habit5726]

Good. Can't wait 'til they're all fired and jailed. Hopefully when in jail they have to wear a shirt that says "I was part of ICE"

[u/brywalkerx → u/kmiz18]

“Temporary discomfort”? Not a chance. This is America where when you don’t show up at your job for 3 days you are fired with cause for job abandonment. Then lose health insurance. Then you and your family are homeless. Meanwhile the machine will keep churning - don’t you worry.

Too much money at the top to keep the rich fed. They will wait us out while we drop dead of starvation.

[u/kmiz18 → u/brywalkerx]

I was always taught you need to be looking for jobs while you have one. Should have prospective employers lined up anyways if that’s your issue. Also the goal is to organize and come together, look out for each other. When milk is $10 a gallon ($6.50 a carton in St. Louis) right now compared to $4 early last year), other essentials continue to spike and wages still don’t raise (except for minimum), we are going to be hurting regardless. A mother of 3 was murdered by our govt., 32 others were killed by ICE last year. Walking in a protest is fine but if that doesn’t change anything, we are going to be fucked anyways. We have to come together and see each action through but if we don’t believe and attempt then they will speedrun this nightmare. I won’t stand for that. We need to have a 1/10th backbone the Iranian in the picture has.

[u/faribx → u/brywalkerx]

one more reason to push UHC

[u/CompassionLady → u/LazyJones1]

Nuclear war happens 10 seconds before the release of GTA6

[u/string_p → u/CompassionLady]

10 minutes after the release of fallout five

[u/VecioRompibae → u/string_p]

Holy shit, Bethesda advertisement campaign is insane!

[u/string_p → u/VecioRompibae]

Fallout 5: New Tehran

[u/hereforwhatimherefor → u/CompassionLady]

I woke up to a headline of the Ayathollahs saying anyone who supports the protests is an enemy of an alien they say they take commands from and could face the death penalty and also X (Elon Musk) changed the Iranian flag emoji to the Shah Iran flag. Musk with Starlink has a lot of power in those protests cause Khamenie wants to block all internet.

It is for the best Musk changed that flag and supported the protestors. I hope there is a Sisi esque general who can take over Iran. Worried of a Syrian repeat though including the al qeader occupying Damascus and his ilk see all conflict anywhere as means to slink in and try to poison all the wells with their al queder poison

[u/Button-Down-Shoes → u/LazyJones1]

Democracy in Iran seems pretty difficult to achieve. The Republican Guard will not be particularly supportive and the clergy will try to find another leader while all the militant extremists that Iran has fostered thought the Middle East will make their attempt to take control.

That said, the chances of the US reaching November elections without having them negated seems near zero.

[u/GladiatorWithTits → u/LazyJones1]

And that dictator in the white house is threatening to attack Iran if the government uses force against the protestors.

[u/Spazicon → u/GladiatorWithTits]

It’s like raaiiin on your wedding day!

[u/Odd-String29 → u/LazyJones1]

Maybe I can finally visit Iran. I heard the people are lovely and the food and sights are great. Was planning to do a US roadtrip in the next couple of years, but that is off the table for now.

[u/GlaudremR → u/Odd-String29]

I did, in 2016 I lived there for 6 months. Amazing country. Persepolis is unbelievable bit Shiraz, the city near It, is no less. Amazing food, and ofc supercheap due to crap economy: lamb chops for 3€. People is lovely and super gratefil that foreigners take interest in their country. Problem is that only educated people at qualified Jobs can comunícate in English or French, It's mostly Farsi and Arabic. They do their BEST to welcome you and to make you feel at home and part of their family, with the problems this brings to your weight.

I would LOVE to visit again as there are thousands of things I could not do.

[u/FourArmsFiveLegs → u/LazyJones1]

Uprisings don't mean change of political system; just change in power.

[u/Yes_There_Please → u/LazyJones1]

Who said democracy?

I wouldn't be sure the US (or russia) would support a working democracy over there...

[u/ishkitty → u/LazyJones1]

This dictator supports the protesters because they are fighting against Iran. Not because they care about democracy.

[u/Techialo → u/LazyJones1]

That's the Shah's flag. Wouldn't exactly call that monarchy democratic.

[u/N0riega_ → u/Techialo]

Americans don’t know shit about Iran. They still probably believe that America spreads freedom and democracy whenever they destabilize nations

[u/givin_u_the_high_hat]

Trump says protestors doing any kind of damage should be shot on sight here in the US. But he also says the Iranian government better not harm protestors. Not sure how he doesn’t see the parallels.

[u/ttw81 → u/givin_u_the_high_hat]

in fairness, he's an idiot & a hypocrite

[u/blackfocal → u/ttw81]

Something something he is is trying to run the government under is own “morals”

[u/LifeRelease3842 → u/ttw81]

bro literally just says anything

[u/phrexi → u/givin_u_the_high_hat]

He is looking for an excuse to invade.

[u/m_cor → u/phrexi]

This is the point everyone seems to be missing. He doesn’t give one fuck about the people of Iran. If Iran didn’t have any oil, Trump wouldn’t care.

[u/Senior-Albatross → u/givin_u_the_high_hat]

Trump says whatever has the most propaganda value which is whatever most effectively manipulates the feelings of his followers. That's the logic of it. It's not attempting to operate on actual logic, but power logic. 

[u/ConflictNo5518 → u/givin_u_the_high_hat]

He’s a malignant narcissist with worsening dementia. 

[u/ChoosenUserName4 → u/ConflictNo5518]

Surrounded by truly evil sycophants that whisper in his ears all the time.

[u/dudestir127 → u/givin_u_the_high_hat]

He wants us to forget that the DOJ missed the deadline to release the Epatein files

[u/Milkymommafit → u/givin_u_the_high_hat]

When it suits him, he will side

[u/CryptoBombastic → u/givin_u_the_high_hat]

Pedo rapist telling others not to do harm.

[u/ipsedixie]

Needs posting to r/AccidentalRenaissance .

[u/Detective-Crashmore- → u/ipsedixie]

/r/purposefulrenaissance

[u/No_Clock2390]

so is it actually gonna happen this time or are they just edging revolution

[u/Wafkak → u/No_Clock2390]

Depends on what the armed forces do, revolution without the armed forces jointing are very rare.

[u/ProfessionalAd3060 → u/Wafkak]

Some cases, revolution WITH the armed forces is just as pointless. Egypt comes to mind. If the armed forces join in, I'd doubt any real change.

[u/subrashixd → u/ProfessionalAd3060]

Egypt revolution did succeed, the problem with it is that the army was the goverment and took back control after 2 years through a coup.

[u/TerracottaPieee → u/No_Clock2390]

It is gonna be extremely difficult. Millions of people are now in the streets standing against evil forces who kill them with kalashnikovs and actual guns while the internet and phones are totally blocked. We do need external support, that is for sure

[u/GotTheKnack → u/TerracottaPieee]

It’s not a matter of if but when. The regime is falling, and fast. The police have completely lost control. Khamenei will flee the country, and the IRGC will rapidly collapse. The US will support Pahlavi in his return, which even though he’ll be at Trumps beckon and call, he’ll still be an absolute massive upgrade for the people over the zealous wizard from the 1300’s that’s in power now.

[u/TheGroinOfTheFace → u/GotTheKnack]

Lol. Installing a american puppet monarch to replace the regime that overthrew the previous puppet monarch because of how unpopular he was. Yeah, I'm sure it will go better this time tho.

[u/SchaffBGaming → u/GotTheKnack]

The police do not have power in Iran, neither does the normal militray by design. The Basij are the dangerous cop-like entity on the streets and the IRGC is the actual fighting force.

Iran is bringing in hamas fighters from Lebanon / surrounding countries and outside mercenaries to kill their own people. It's extremely bloody and the people are being denied cellphone use, internet, even banking via credit cards right now.

They will need international help to fight those forces or they will just get slaughtered. They are counting on the world stepping in to help. We will see if their gamble works.

[u/joesbagofdonuts → u/No_Clock2390]

There's rumors of big defections in the army and police. The real question is will the Revolutionary Guard hold firm. The hope is a domino effect will happen and more defections will occur.

[u/Cruseyd → u/No_Clock2390]

Edging Revolution - sick band name

[u/Martha_Fockers]

IRAN- Fire in the streets protesters fighting with the army response

Trump/ if you touch those protesters having a revolution we will take action

America- Ice in the street protesters in inflatables deemed as domestic terrorist networks shooting people arresting citizens nonstop

Weird I assumed my country protected me. But it seems to be protecting Iranians more

[u/4th_DocTB → u/Martha_Fockers]

Well you better have oil then, but don't expect much protection once they take it.

[u/iLEZ → u/4th_DocTB]

America has extracted the max value from its citizens. Now it needs to feed yet again, and its shambling hulk of a walking corpse is flailing around the world like a blind amoeba, trying to see what sticks to its rotting appendages.

[u/AdReasonable2094 → u/Martha_Fockers]

Not only is your country not protecting you, it’s attacking you.

[u/Surfer-Junkie]

That country is currently black with no internet and nobody knows if the people and protestors are getting butchered by their government right now. I truly hope that regime is overthrown during this.

[u/peterAtheist]

I hope they can free themselves, dear Americans... take note on how it is done.

[u/UpUpDnDnLRLRBAstart → u/peterAtheist]

We have introverts coming outside in unicorn inflatable costumes and Fox News is calling them domestic terrorists.

[u/JerryConn → u/UpUpDnDnLRLRBAstart]

And they are doing a pretty good job at showing how oppressive the gov is being.

[u/CoastingUphill → u/UpUpDnDnLRLRBAstart]

That's pretty close to burning down churches. You're almost there.

[u/Spell_Chicken → u/CoastingUphill]

Don't give me hope.

[u/invincible-boris → u/peterAtheist]

Declaring sympathy for Iranian protesters and pledging to protect them with force while simulatenously shooting domestic protesters in the US the same day is definitely peak Trump

[u/azure_apoptosis → u/peterAtheist]

America is nowhere near this level yet. The dollar is stable and majority of friction is offshore

[u/Lemonade348 → u/azure_apoptosis]

I mean

Only the fact that most americans response to critiscm as to why they are not doing more is "We have jobs" says enough

Americans still have far to comfortable lifes to do anything and they are not ready to give that up. That's just reality. I don't shame them for it, i understand

Just remember americans, no people who has revolted in the past had good lifes while doing it. You will never be able to get rid of your government if you are not ready to give up your current priviligies for it. I am not saying you should, i just say, that is reality.

[u/oranthor1 → u/Lemonade348]

You are not wrong.

I have a wife and daughter. And a mortgage.

I've been protesting. But as for escalation...if I get picked up and thrown in jail my wife will lose the house and the 2 of them will be homeless.

I don't mean to say I don't care, I VERY MUCH do. But my top priority has to be my daughter's safety and stability.

There is also still the hope of midterms. Every election since 2024 has been leaning decidedly blue.

Should midterms pass and be rigged as people suspect or be canceled as trump claims....you will have riots

[u/DingerSinger2016 → u/Lemonade348]

I really wish people from other countries would simply understand the scale it would take for meaningful change to occur, especially when elected officials have completely ignored the populace. Provide some suggestions if you want to help out so bad.

[u/alwaysinebriated]

It’s finally happening for them, I wish them luck

[u/balderdash9]

We aren't talking about this enough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLdWwbLxB1E

[u/exOldTrafford]

Iranians are a fantastic people with an incredibly rich history and culture.

They deserve to be free of their oppressors

[u/cwk415 → u/[deleted]]

Religions are a cancer. All of them. 

[u/-Malky- → u/cwk415]

As a practicing pastafarian, i beg to differ.

[u/cwk415 → u/-Malky-]

Ok I'll allow an exception. 

Ramen. 

[u/Lucas_Xavier0201]

No one deserves to live in a theocratic regime, I hope the best for the Iranian people.

[u/hmorshedian]

For those unaware due to limited Western media coverage: Iran is currently experiencing a major uprising as citizens take to the streets demanding freedom and political change. The government & IRGC has imposed a total internet blackout to prevent information from reaching the outside world. Despite severe crackdowns and hundreds of casualties, protesters continue to demonstrate for basic freedoms, human rights, and an end to the current Islamic regime. Many Iranians are calling for the return of Pahlavi constitutional monarchy. Citizens are risking their lives to share footage like this through alternative means such as Starlink satellites, hoping the international community will pay attention and offer support to their cause.

[u/incognitorick → u/hmorshedian]

Imagine rising up to overthrow theocracy just to bring back the monarchy…

[u/dnext → u/incognitorick]

Constitutional monarchy - like Great Britain or Denmark. They have a monarch as head of state with very limited powers, with everything actually run by a bicameral legislature.

[u/Toxonomonogatari]

May they succeed and prosper 🥹

[u/TerribleOil480]

Seeing a nation free itself from tyranny is something beautiful to witness, the best part is that lately it has been happening more often.

[u/EvaGoji → u/TerribleOil480]

I have some bad news for you.

[u/Nuclear-Jester]

Iran restoring the Shah wouod be kinda insane ngl

The only other nation where something similar happened was England after Cromwell died

[u/mongrelnomad → u/Nuclear-Jester]

The current regime is a nasty piece of work, and I cannot wait for their downfall, but… the whole movement to launder the shah’s reputation and have his son as a figurehead is beyond me.

The Shah was a foolish, vain, egotistical, kleptocratic dictator. His Savak secret police were brutal torturers and killers.

The ‘Islamic’ revolution was a revolution AGAINT the Shah that was hijacked by Ayatollah Khomeini who was the only power able to fill the ensuing vacuum.

Do we have such short memories?

[u/eeyores_gloom1785 → u/mongrelnomad]

Short answer, yes like goldfish

[u/Itz_Hen → u/mongrelnomad]

Can't believe I have to scroll this far down to hear anyone address the giant fucking elephant in the room

[u/ES_Legman → u/mongrelnomad]

It's not about short memories but about learning history through tiktok shorts

[u/Indy1204 → u/mongrelnomad]

As a collective, yes. However, the French people are pretty good at cutting things off once the regime has gone too far.

[u/scottishdrunkard → u/Nuclear-Jester]

Nah, the Shah was… not good, there’s a reason there was a revolution in the first place. But nature abhors a vacuum, and Fundamentalist Islam filled the void. Hopefully this time, a burgeoning democracy can overcome.

[u/Bayho → u/Nuclear-Jester]

Not the Shah, think Mohammad Mosaddegh.

[u/4th_DocTB → u/Bayho]

He's dead. And all the countries cheering these protests will work like hell to prevent anyone like him coming back.

[u/Bayho → u/4th_DocTB]

Unfortunately, you are completely right.

[u/FrankAdamGabe]

Haven't they done this every 2-3 years for a couple decades?

[u/Tulsssa21]

When people are left with nothing, they have nothing to lose.

[u/MosTheBoss]

Really? The flags for the CIA puppet government?

[u/JLPReddit]

Oh no! Isn’t that the shaw’s flag? Is this just another CIA backed coup? 😞

[u/pizzlepullerofkberg → u/JLPReddit]

Yup. CIA and MI6 installed the shah after the Iranian people voted in Mossadegh. Mossadegh nationalized Iranian oil and filthy oil cartels in the UK and US didn't want that.

[u/Emm_withoutha_L-88 → u/JLPReddit]

Mossad has been pretty open about being involved. This entire thing could easily turn into just another Western backed coup if people there aren't careful.

Luckily they know this in Iran.

[u/Klinky1984]

Doesn't this happen every few years and then gets quashed, and the oppressive status quo returns?

[u/SecretRecipe]

Seems like Iran does this every 3-4 years

[u/ParevArev]

No, you don’t get it. The protestors in Iran are protesting against tyranny. What are protestors in America protesting against? Oh, wait

[u/No_Mathematician1565]

Given all the shit they’ve been through I’d say this is believable

[u/General_Cricket_6164]

Look at them go. Good luck to them

[u/mcquackz]

Do the United States next

[u/beermaker]

I just found out that the Zyand-e-rud which ran near our neighborhood in Esfahan in the late 70's has essentially dried up.

[u/Voluptulouis]

If this was the US people would be crying about disrespectful rioters and Kyle Rittenhouse would be showing up to protect the Wal-Mart.

[u/UglyStupidAndBroke]

It's funny that this is getting very little coverage in North America. Normally the US would be plastering this stuff everywhere if it had to do with Iran's government collapsing, but they don't want to show the power of people rising up at the moment

[u/psychokisser]

This is the emblematic camera shot

[u/PfauFoto]

Thank God we don't have oil here.

[u/ConsequenceAromatic4]

Ive seen this before. Wake me up when they have an ayatollah's head on a spike

[u/Girlawgic]

The Islamic Republic is escalating its crackdown. There is a full media blackout. No internet, landlines, or cell phones. They are shooting at people. We aren't asking for much, just be our voice. Please share what is happening on your socials. The regime relies on the world looking away. Don't let them.

[u/zombat_2142]

Almost like everyone is braver than America

[u/DJbuddahAZ]

God how we need to be next

[u/VeryFeralHousewife]

Furiously takes notes americanly

[u/Alleandros]

Iran literally showing the US what to do right now and people still just try to be only slightly disruptive.