Over the past few days, protests have erupted in the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI). There is a lack of nuanced analysis surrounding these protests, what they are about, and the broader implications of such protests. As Marxists within the imperial core, it is our duty to have a proper analysis and support our comrades in the global south. We intend to provide this in the following post. Our analysis and views are informed by statements put forth by Iranian Communists.
Summary
From 28 December (7 Dey) onwards, Iranians have been protesting against the policies and economic mismanagement of the IRI. These protests originated among merchants in the capital, Tehran, over the surged prices of steel and gold, as well as low value of the Iranian Rial. From there, these protests spread to other cities, such as Esfahan, Mashhad, Kermanshah, and Hamedan. Protesters faced off against government forces, equipped with tear gas and other crowd dispersal tools. The IRGC was also deployed to quell protesters. As of 2 January (12 Dey), these protests are ongoing. Protesters chanted a wide array of slogans, primarily aimed at the reactionary religious IRI government, including “Down with velayet-e-faqih” (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist, the official system of the IRI) and “Jin Jiyan Azadi” (Women, Life, Freedom, in Kurdish). Other workers and students later joined in as well. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and military have also killed protestors. This violent repression of the popular uprising has been met with an even greater surge against the IRI. Ultimately, these protests are a result of the widespread poverty imposed by US sanctions, the corrupt IRI government, exceedingly high inflation, and low purchasing power. However, they have expanded to include support of women’s rights and religious freedom as well, echoing the sentinments of the previous JJA (Jina Amini) movement.
It is important that we recognize that these protests have a fundamentally democratic character. They originate from merchants, truckers, and the working class struggling against their economic conditions. “Leftist” sources in the west have jumped to the incorrect conclusion that such protests are being fomented and prolonged by the west. Any kind of turmoil amongst the masses in Iran would lead to Amerika inserting itself as an imperialist force. Imperialists don’t need excuses to execute imperialism. Additionally, there have been attempts to paint the protests as Shah vs IRI which ignores and decenters the needs of the protesting working class. Though it is true some Iranians have been calling for the return of the Reza Pahlavi, the heart of the mass protests is against dictatorship and tyranny, and logically this includes the return of a desposed monarch’s son.
The people of Iran have the right to struggle for liberation, uncorupted by pro-Shah AND pro-IRI forces.
History
The IRI did not come from nowhere, and it owes its modern existence to the meddling done by foreign powers. In the early 1950s, Iran, under its democratically elected Prime Minister Mohmmad Mosaddegh, attempted to audit the records of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC), which had been taking an unfair cut of Iranian Oil revenues. The AIOC refused, which lead to the Iranian Majlis (Parliament) to attempt at nationalizing the oil industry. After the vote passed, the British government sanctioned Iran, and eventually colluded with the Truman administration to overthrow Mosaddegh, and replace him with Fazlollah Zahedi, who placated the Shah, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, to rule as an absolute monarch. Pahlavi’s regime was marked by widespread repression of dissent, a covert secret police (SAVAK), fielty to the West and Israel, and widespread poverty. This lead to a popular uprising in 1979, with multiple factions, mainly the left opposition and the Islamist opposition. They initially worked together, but after the revolution, the Islamists asserted control, persecuted the leftists, and instituted the Islamic Republic of Iran. Saddam Hussein, at the time an ally of the West, proceeded to invade Iran in 1980, fearful of the Shia revolution spreading to the Iraqi Shia community. This further isolated and hindered Iran, even after the end of the war in 1988. With the fall of the Soviet Union, in 1991, the US was left unchecked as the sole global superpower, and began focusing on spreading its influence globally, inlcuding to the Middle East. Iran and Syria were especially targeted, being the only state powers in the region to oppose the West and Israel. As a result, both countries were slapped with inhumane sanctions, further increasing national poverty. Additionally, the religious rightist regime increased crackdowns against the rights of women and religious minorities, as well as minority groups such as Kurds and Balochis. Over the years, more and more anti-IRI demonstrations sprung up, including the massive JJA movement in 2022-2023. This movement led to large concessions from the IRI, although the systems of oppression are still in place. Furthermore, it created a new “reformist” camp within the IRI, seeking to obtain further concessions while keeping Velayet-E-Faqih in place.
Today
From the onset of the escalation of the genocide in Gaza in 2023, Iran has repeatedly exchanged strikes with Israel. This led to two short wars, which destroyed large parts of Iran and further exasperated the problems created by the sanctions and IRI government. Israel seeks to change the regime in Iran to a pro-Zionist one, as they have done in Syria. However, these protests are not created by the US or Israel. They originate from the will of the Iranian masses, who do not wish to live under a repressive theocracy. The constant labelling of opposition to the IRI as foreign backed leads to the alienation of the progressive masses within Iran. Ultimately for Iran to achieve socialism, it is necessary for the IRI to fall. Steps towards this ultimate goal, when carried out by popular forces, should be supported by all Marxists.
Conclusion
It is true that the IRI strongly opposes Israel, and the fall of the IRI could potentially lead to a pro-Zionist government in Iran. However, this is not a guarantee, and the IRI is a repressive regime that hinders progress within the country. We echo the oppinion of Iranian communists, “No Velayet-E-Faqih, and No Pahlavi.” The problems created by the IRI are very serious, as are the sanctions imposed by the West, and Iran, like all nations, deserves the right to independent democratic governance. Overthrowing the IRI is a crucial step towards greater revolutionary change in both Iran and the Middle East overall. “Khamenei today, Erdogan and MBS tomorrow”. While there are some Iranians calling for the return of Pahlavi, there are also forces insisting on neither. We stand with the people of Iran against the Shah, the IRI, and the West.