Washington Post Reports on Hidden Force That Could Be Destructive to Iran’s Regime
David Ignatius, in an article published in the Washington Post, has predicted that the active labor movement in Iran is the main factor in structural changes that could lead to the downfall of the current regime.
The writer stated in his article: “The labor movement in Iran is usually overlooked when assessing the country’s situation, even though workers’ protests have created significant momentum and have enjoyed a broad base of support, and the regime has faced difficulties in suppressing it for 20 years.”
The writer highlighted the importance of the labor movement by citing remarks from Mohammad Khatami, Iran’s former president, which were made approximately one month after nationwide protests in November last year against fuel price increases.
Khatami had said that when the upper and middle classes of society join the workers’ protesters, no military or security force will be able to take action against them… and such tension will turn into a confrontation between the regime and the people.
According to the article’s author, “the bloodiest clashes during the November protests occurred in Mahshahr in southwestern Iran, where protesters, including petrochemical workers, took to the streets and the regime responded with ‘brutality’ using automatic weapons and tanks.”
Behnam Ben Talib, a political analyst, told the Washington Post that the regime “fears organized action and is well aware that strikes in the oil industry were a necessary step in overthrowing the Shah.”
Maryam Moamarzadeghi, who monitors Iranian labor unions, points out that there is a kind of coordination and mutual reinforcement between labor strikes and street protests.
The author of this article states: “Iran is slowly moving toward a potential turning point. The 1979 Revolution and the regime’s leaders are aging, and clergymen are ruled by the Revolutionary Guards both inside and outside, but the charisma of the Guards disappeared last month with the killing of Qasem Soleimani.”
According to the writer’s prediction, “political stagnation in Iran will continue for another decade, but the notion that such a system will remain standing forever in such a complex country is very difficult. In his view, the working class is a force that can change the regime.”
The writer concludes his article with the statement that “when you see waves of strikes spreading across Iran, despite brutal repression, you will realize that Iran may finally enter a new phase.”
Source: Al Arabiya Farsi
