Economically, Iran is in the process of coming apart. Its GDP steadily sinks. More than 40% of Iranians are now living below the poverty line. The rial is at an historic low, having lost 25% of its value just since September; it now stands at 820,000 rials to a dollar. Since the establishment of the Islamic government in 1979, the Iranian currency has undergone an 11,000-fold decline in value.
Politically Iran is on its back foot. It has seen all of its major allies, that were formerly part of Iran’s “Shi’a crescent” — Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Assad regime in Syria —fall away. In Gaza, Hamas is being systematically dismantled by the IDF, with 20,000 of its fighters killed and many more wounded. In Lebanon, Hezbollah has been battered by the IDF. Four thousand of its operatives have been killed, thousands more wounded, and 80% of its once-formidable arsenal of rockets and missiles destroyed by the IAF. Hezbollah had to beg for a ceasefire that requires it to remove all of its men and weapons north of the Litani River. In Syria, the rebels have toppled the Assad despotism, and once the loyal ally of Iran, Syria has now become the archenemy of the Islamic Republic, precisely because Iran for so long supported the Assad regime. Iran invested $50 billion in keeping Assad in power; now that $50 billion has gone up in smoke, and the Iranian people are keenly aware of that loss, which has enraged many of them.
More on the current dismal of Iran’s economy, its military weakness, and the growing fury of its population with the regime of the mullahs, can be found here: “$50 billion to Syria vanished into thin air: Unrest in Iran grows over economic turmoil – interview,” by Peled Arbeli, Jerusalem Post, January 10, 2025:
Iran’s public discontent surged in recent weeks as economic hardships, including widespread power outages and rising inflation, fueled calls for change, Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) researcher Benny Sabti told Maariv on Friday.
Sabti began by describing the growing frustration among the Iranian population. “People are very angry with the regime for squandering funds, oil revenues, and resources on Syria, which fell alongside Hezbollah,” he said. “The regime has poured $50 billion into Syria from 2000 until now, all of which vanished into thin air, along with funds sent to Lebanon and other places.” According to Sabti, the Iranian public views this as “a regime failure.”
Sabti believes recent events have given Iranians hope. He pointed to key incidents, such as the reported elimination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, which exposed the Iranian regime’s vulnerabilities, and “the fall of Gaza.” He emphasized: “All of this gives the Iranian public—80% of whom oppose the regime—hope.”…
Most Iranians — 80% of them, according to the Israeli researcher Benny Sabti — oppose the regime and have taken heart from the Israelis’ victories over both Hamas and Hezbollah, for both terror groups are seen, correctly, as allies of the Tehran regime. They have been especially impressed by Mossad’s spectacular ability to assassinate, in the middle of a heavily-guarded guest house in Tehran, the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. These Iranians were pleased when the IAF managed to destroy Iran’s S-300 anti-aircraft systems, and the plant producing fuel for ballistic missiles. They are waiting for an IDF attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which they believe will cause the Iranian leadership to be so publicly humiliated by the “Zionist entity,” as to lose all face, and be vulnerable to being toppled by a popular uprising.
Sabti described worsening living conditions: “There are daily power outages lasting six to seven hours in Tehran and across the country, with even longer outages in remote areas. Water shortages follow the power cuts, and air pollution worsens because there isn’t enough clean gas to heat factories and homes. Instead, they burn ship fuel, which causes severe pollution until it’s stopped. The result is freezing temperatures and city shutdowns.” He added: “On some days, people are forbidden to leave their homes—children, adults, government offices, and banks alike.”…
This is the daily nightmare experienced by Iranians, a nightmare of constant and long power outages, water shortages, a spike in water pollution, a lack of clean gas replaced by ship fuel to heat buildings that results in still greater air pollution, which then leads to heating being cut off, and ordinary Iranians enduring freezing temperatures are told to remain at home in order not to be out breathing the polluted air in the cities.
The regime is so worried about more street demonstrations that it now views as inevitable, that it has now been drilling the security services to deal with such manifestations of popular fury. But clubbing protesters so as to end their demonstrations will only serve to further enrage the demonstrators.
Militarily, Iran is weaker now than it has been at any time since the ayatollahs came to power in 1979. It has been stripped of its former military allies in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, the first two because of actions taken by the IDF, the third because the HTS rebels almost bloodlessly overturned the Assad regime, sending Bashar fleeing to Moscow. The Israeli Air Force has stripped Iran of its S-300 anti-aircraft defenses, and of the manufacturing plant where it made fuel for its ballistic missiles.
The 80% of Iranians who now wish for an end to the regime are hoping that Trump will reimpose the sanctions on Iran that Biden had lifted, turning the screws still tighter on the Iranian economy, which will, in turn, increase the level of disaffection with the regime. And they are even hoping for Israel to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, which will be such a public humiliation that could weaken the regime to the point that it will, after 45 years, finally crumble into dust.
somehistory says
The ugly ghoul looks as if he is having a great big meltdown with lots of boohooing.
He is wearing a scarf much like ratshida tlaib wore to cast dirt on carter’s casket.
Troybeam says
When evil rules the nation then the nation and the people suffer and all that evil started when Jimmy Carter interfered in Iran.
Yabbadabadoo says
Faster, please.
Cynthia says
The end of the mullahs regime cannot happen soon enough for the Iranian people and the world.
What a toxic, violent Islamic influence on the world!
Barry Morgan says
Definitely!
Rick Gordon says
Good people everywhere can only hope that this story will be repeated in Russia, China, North Korea, and Venezuela.
Barry Morgan says
One can only hope!
gravenimage says
+1
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Dear Iranians
Just give it a week, and then revolt. This time, the US won’t bail out your regime, and you can overthrow them, execute all their leaders starting w/ Khamenei, and then make Iran a completely non-islamic country. Also make sure you’re not invaded by rogue countries like Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan or Azerbaijan
In fact, one suggestion: make Iran a haven for everybody in your neighborhood fleeing from islam, and outlaw islam – both shi’a and sunni – in your country! A haven for Zoroastrians, Yazidis, Bahai, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, even Hindus. It should be a beautiful experience
Gurek says
I wish that happened but sadly all of the Middle East is not safe for non-Muslims. It’s only islam that is allowed. I hope one day soon the Infidels will be conscious about this issue and create a safe haven for both ex-Muslims and other non-Muslims. Currently there is no place in the world that could accept all of them. I believe we still live in the dark ages. If you question islam and its teachings and deside to follow your own way you will be persecuted.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I hear you, but according to the Gamaan survey some 4 years ago, only 40% of Iranians identify as muslims, & only 32% as shi’a. I’d think that since then, those numbers have eroded even further, maybe 30% tops for muslims. There’s also the possibility that even the GAMAAN survey wouldn’t have revealed all the apostates, many of who may have, in the true taquiyya spirit, pretended to be islamic, thereby inflating even these numbers of islam-real-adherents
Also note that historically, Iranians have converted easily – first from Zoroastrianism to sunni islam, and under the Safavids, from sunni to shi’a islam. It wasn’t intense theological debates that persuaded Iranians about the authenticity of the Twelver sect: it was the usual “convert or die or leave” argument that did it. So a future regime in Iran could just as easily outlaw islam, and the people would follow suit. I’d suspect Atheism to be dominant, even though 22% said “None” in the 2020 survey (not sure how that’s different from Agnostic). But if people do decide that Atheism is not for them, they may lean towards something like Zoroastrianism, which was their home grown religion (even though Balkh/Zaripsa, where Zarathustra was born, is deep in Afghanistan)
I do hope that whoever succeeds the islamic regime in Iran decides to curb islam w/ a strong hand, and is not a regime like Hamid Karzai or the one in Iraq. Unlike those 2 countries, Iran must not allow islam any place in its constitution, other than outright banning it
Barry Morgan says
Magnificent idea!
MD Anthony says
Iran coming apart at the seems why coming apart? Hamas won!
As for terrorist dead – thats not a problem -Martys are Allah’s will.
The other problem is the regime keeps relentlessly repairing the seams with thread made from the bodies of their own people.
gravenimage says
Gaza is not Iran’s only problem.
James Lincoln says
Ironically, poor decisions made by the bungling installed Biden regime has had the cascade effect of ultimately weakening Iran.
Not what Biden had intended…
Transmaster says
What has not been mentioned is Iran’s good buddies, China and Russia, are in trouble.
Russia has destroyed itself fighting in Ukraine. Russia has concealed the numbers, but casually, numbers are thought to be as high as 650,000. Russia’s Military has turned out to be a paper tiger. Putin’s dream of ending NATO has had the opposite effect, Finland and Sweden are now NATO members. NATO now surrounds the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland. Now, with the Chinese “accidentally” dragging anchors across undersea gas pipelines and data cables, Surrounding countries are building up their navies to patrol this only Western warm water port Russia has heavily.
China’s economy is collapsing because of Covid and China’s crackdown on Western high-tech companies. The blatant thief of Western technology, arresting foreign Tech executives for spying. this has caused a mass exodus of these companies from China: Samsung is gone, and Apple is leaving. Millions have been put out of work. China is reviled in South East Asia. The CCP is no longer in a position to help Iran.
President Trump gave a tacit go-ahead for Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to support the opposition groups in Iran during his first term. Brain Dead Biden, of course, ended this. It was starting to have good results. Things are even more unstable in Iran. Trump resuming his support for this will have much better results.
gravenimage says
Good points, Transmaster.
Taffy says
If Israel bombed the Iranian oil terminals, that would have set back the country more notches than any US sanctions could’ve done. Biden for some reason blocked Israel from the proper retaliatory strike.
Transmaster says
That decision came from the shadow of President Obama.
Tony Rice says
The countries that join the Force of EVIL as actually mentioned in the Talmud and early Jewish writings ( Persia ) will eventually suffer the same fate, countries such as Russia and North Korea and possibly China ( beware the Yellow peril )
James Hoagland says
This is Islam.. their only competition for incompetency is marxism… if not for oil Islam would have folded long ago.
Walter Sieruk says
Naturally, that Islamic tyranny of “Iran is coming apart at the seams. “ This is because that Islamic regime was, from the its very beginning woven together in a cloth that is made up of lies as well as false and empty unkempt promises.
That Islamic tyrannical regime of Iran is and always was since its very beginning a horrendous violator of human rights, especially females, both girls and women, even the most basic human rights of the Iranian people. Since those tyrants in power in Iran care nothing ,at all , for the humans rights as in lives and safety of the people of Iran , how much less do they care ,if even possible, about the lives and safely of the people of other countries.
Furthermore, that Islamic tyranny of Iran is based in the foundation of false and empty promises. As well as lying words of Ayatollah Khomeini After the fiendish Muslim clerics obtained total power in Iran they showed their true colors by having their Islamic state police who are called the “Revolutionary Guards truest the people on Iran in many heinously brutal and ruthless ways. As, for example, their brutal, callous misogyny against both girls and women. This thesis statement is explained, in some detail, by the following.
, That tyrannical Islamic regime in Iran that so falsely and inappropriately has the word “republic” in its title. It should be made known that this called the “Iranian Revolution” turned out to be a hoax. Ayatollah Khomeini before achieving power in Iran in his lying and deceptions presented himself to the Iranian people as if he was someone who would be in power would give freedom to the people of Iran with any tyranny. The reality turned out to be just the opposite.
As explained by a former Muslim as well as a man who took part in this Islamic “revolution “ ,who is now a Christian informs the reader of his book that “Prior to the Revolution no one ever imagined that other political parties would be suppressed under the rule of Ayatollah Khomeini. He had promised that all groups would have freedom to run their own campaigns after the Revolution. He even stated that governing system would be based on the decision of the people via a referendum. He never spoke of a system that would be governed by Islam. He even made clear that mullahs would not take part in any political activities, and that they would only be allowed to teach spirituality… Immediately after the Revolution, mullahs rushed into government offices to occupy the most important political l positions, making it difficult for the interim secular government to function … The mullah’s occupation of position was exactly the opposite to what the Ayatollah Khomeini had promised before the Revolution.”. [1]
In other words, the insincere, disingenuous and outright lying Ayatollah Khomeini made many bogus promise he really had no intention of keeping. His lying deception worked, for he achieved great power in Iran.
Moreover, of the many heinously evils outcomes of that Islamic “revolution” is the extremely cruel, brutal and demonic misogyny of this hideous Islamic regime. Not only against women but even young girls.
As explained by a former Iranian Revolutionary Guard member who defected to the West and how now lives in America his book also informs the reader about the malicious and murderous affront girls in Iran’s Evin prison which reads that those in power ,the “paraded teenage girls in front in front of me as they led them to their deaths. These girls were barely out of their childhood, barely old enough to think of themselves, much less form thoughts against the state. They knew nothing about the machinations of politics. They were innocent in every sense of the word and certainty innocent of trumped –up charges that led to their imprisonment. Yet they suffered fates too brutal for even the most vicious criminal. ..Their few remaining moments of life had been filled with the level of abuse that few can imagine”
The author further states “They tortured and killed young girls, in God’s name and before their execution they raped them because they believed that if a girl dies virgin, she will go to heaven, and they wanted to deny them this reward.” [2]
This is as malice -filled cruel brutal oppressive malicious and murderous Islamic regime of Iran, since it took power in Iran it thrives on installing fear on the Iranian people.
First, the Bible reads, “All the days of the oppressed are wretched.” Proverbs 15:15. [N.I.V.]
Second, Benjamin Franklin had printed a very true statement in his periodical Poor Richard’s Almanac which may apply to that horrendous tyrannical regime of Iran. It’s “Those who are feared are also hated.”
One important this to understand that since that brutal .cruel oppressive and murderous Islamic regime of Iran was built on a bedrock of lies as well as empty and unkempt promises its footing is based on a foundation of sand, therefore the collapse of that hostile horrific and horrendous Islamic tyranny of Iran should be inevitable.
[1] ISLAM THE HOUSE I LEFT BEHIND by Daniel Shayesteh . Pages 90, 91
[2] A TIME TO BETRAY by Reza Kahlili. Pages 2,3. 117.
Tony Rice says
This is difficult to read, especially re the young girls being executed and what was done to them to comply with Islamic laws. Don’t tell me Islam is not a misognyst religion, it is BASED on it.
gravenimage says
All grimly true, Walter. Apparenlty the prison sends the parents of these executed girls cheap plastic toys, which are supposed to be “weddingt gifts” to emphasize that they were raped before being murdered.
Walter Sieruk says
That horrendously brutal, cruel oppressive malicious and murderous Islamic regime of Iran, denies the Iranian, people their basic natural human rights.
Therefore, the Iranian people are right and righteous by engaging in bitter and strong protests against those cruel malicious and murderous tyrants in power of that cruel and oppressive Sharia based dictatorship of that Islamic regime of Iran.
In other words, those vicious despots of that horrendously horrific Islamic regime have provoked the people excessively too far.
In addition, some of the people who trapped in and forced to exist in the Islamic dictatorship of Iran might not know about the intellect philosopher John Locke, but his ideas do apply to them. For Mr. Locke taught that any good government has the duty to ensure the security and safety of its citizens. Yet when a tyranny is the people in the tyrannical government do have every natural and ethical right to overthrow that terrible and oppressive tyrannical government.
gravenimage says
Iran Coming Apart at the Seams
…………………………………….
I hope you are right, Mr. Fitzgerald.