Protests spread across several major cities in Iran

[-:Undertaker:-]

Protests spread across several major cities in Iran

Persians heard chanting for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic and the restoration of the Shah

Iran protesters voice opposition in Iranian cities https://t.co/oPM2jKG4Lt

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 29, 2017

This woman in #Iran took off her #Hijab to protest the mandatory Islamic dress code imposed on Iranian women. #IStandWithHer #IranProtests #Islam pic.twitter.com/G6oKHIPA68

— Armin Navabi (@ArminNavabi) December 29, 2017

According to @bbcpersian this is in Qom. Seems protesters calling for return of Shah to Iran. pic.twitter.com/aQrECetej5

— Wladimir van Wilgenburg (@vvanwilgenburg) December 29, 2017

This could be another false dawn (like so many in Iran over the last decade) but I really hope not.

Iran, unlike many neighbouring Arab countries, is a great historical power and Persians have throughout history and until recently been really advanced people. It's a beautiful country I would love to visit one day, but visit to have fun while I am there rather than worrying about the religious zealots who rule it looking over my back.

Maybe the disaster of the 1979 Islamic Revolution can be overturned for 2018. Let's hope so. Interesting also to note how the the Shah (King/Emperor) is being invoked. A possible monarchy restoration in time?

Thoughts?

[-:Undertaker:-]

An escalation of the crisis tonight as Iranian Police refuse to carry out orders with the elite Republican Revolutionary Guards being deployed in their place. Critical as of now for the regime as to how it decides to respond.

The internet, TV stations and phone lines have been shut down by the regime in parts of the country with reports the city of Kashan not too far from the capital Tehran is under control of protestors. Now seems to have spread all over.

Protesters in #Iran sit down in front of government forces, protecting each other from the upcoming attack. #Iranprotests pic.twitter.com/R4hJG2zw4c

— Armin Navabi (@ArminNavabi) December 29, 2017

#IranianProtests escalate. Now crowds are attacking police, governor, government outposts. #Iran ##اعتراض_سراسری

— Farnaz Fassihi (@farnazfassihi) December 30, 2017

#BreakingNews #HappeningNow
Dec 30 - #Arak, #Iran
Protesters chasing state police vehicle. They apparently no longer fear the regime.#IranProtests #تظاهرات_سراسرى #يحدث_الان_في_ايران pic.twitter.com/pMzaVpBaTc

— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) December 30, 2017

#IranProtests: #Khamenei's Poster Being Torn Apart and Set Ablaze in Southern city, #BandarAbbashttps://t.co/6XEUwQdhr3 #FreeIran #RegimeChange #Iran #IranianProtests pic.twitter.com/6A4TT7Ewq1

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 30, 2017

The clerics - could - be about to face their own 1979.

[-:Undertaker:-]

A first & game changing shift in #IranProtests: reports of security forces refusing to battle the crowds. #Iran #تظاهرات_سراسرى_

— Farnaz Fassihi (@farnazfassihi) January 1, 2018

Day 5. I just had a chat with a retired worker in Iran who spent a few years in prison in the Shah's time and was very active in the revolution against the Shah in 1979. His son is now a monarchist hoping the Shah's son can rule Iran and the son protests every day! Strange times.

— Maziar Bahari (@maziarbahari) January 1, 2018

Protesters in Iran: “Be quiet. He’s going to say something.”
Regime officer to protesters: “I did not become a soldier to fight you [my own people].”
Protesters cheer and shout: “Stand by us, stand by us.” #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/yq6WOJ4vrn

— Armin Navabi (@ArminNavabi) January 2, 2018

Female protester to older Iranians: "You raised your fists and ruined our lives [referring to the 1979 Islamic revolution]. Now we raise our fists [to fix your mistake]. Be men, join us. I as a woman will stand in front and protect you. Come represent your country."#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/y9MjkaRqac

— Armin Navabi (@ArminNavabi) January 1, 2018

And from the exiled Crown Prince of Iran (the would-be Shah)...

The current regime in #Iran will never be reformed. It had 38 years to moderate, and never did. Instead, it squandered the nation’s wealth, pushed Iran into foreign conflicts, and killed tens of thousands of Iranians to maintain its power. #FreeIran #IranProtests

— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) December 31, 2017

The exiled Empress also...

پیام شهبانو فرح پهلوی پیرو تظاهرات سراسری در ایران#تظاهرات_سراسری #ایران pic.twitter.com/qwKwqi2xbO

— FARAH PAHLAVI - فرح پهلوی (@ShahbanouFarah) December 30, 2017

The feeling seems to be that the regime doesn't quite know how to respond, it knows from the 1979 revolution it led against the Shah the mistakes he made which lost him power. So it's a catch 22 - do they go for a crackdown and risk the protests spiralling out of control or do they let the protests run in which case they could grow to 1979 proportions (=end of the regime)?