What Is Happening in Iran?

History is in the making in Iran. As the 40th year of the anniversary of the Islamic revolution approaches, we are seeing the end of this regime. Much is happening in Iran today politically, socially, and spiritually. I believe we will see a major change in Iran soon and it will be in weeks, months, but not years.

There is much news daily about Iran. Following the news carefully and being constantly and directly in touch with the people of Iran has given me a perspective that might be helpful to those who want to understand what is going on. So each day for the next week, I will provide a short commentary on What is happening in Iran.

This post is part 1 of a six-part series on the current state of Iran and its church. To read the entire series now, click here. 

Part 1: What Is Happening with Iran’s People?

Since December 2017, citizens have protested almost daily on the streets of many Iranian cities. These protests are intensifying. What is the main reason people protest, knowing that they may be arrested or even killed? It is the economy. 

Iran is a rich country. It has the second largest gas reserves and fourth largest oil reserves in the world. But corruption and mismanagement have deteriorated the economy to a point where millions struggle to meet basic necessities such as bread, milk, eggs, and meat. Many cities have no water or electricity during this hot summer. The unemployment rate is high and jobs so scarce that even those with higher education have no jobs. People with master’s and doctorate degrees are willing to drive cabs and wash dishes in a restaurant, but they cannot find even that work. 

Last week, the Iranian Parliament admitted that 50 percent of the population is under the poverty line. Others put that number at 80 percent. 

Why are the people of Iran so angry?

Terrorism prioritized over people. They are angry because they see that their government is not using its income to build its economy but to finance its agenda in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, and Yemen. People get angry when they see money spent to help Syrian Bashar Al-Asad stay in power. They get angry when they see their government helping the needy children in Palestine and Lebanon but not in Iran. 

Unchecked government corruption. They get angry when almost weekly for the last three years, they have heard about multimillion-dollar embezzlements by government officials. (After the removal of sanctions by the Obama administration, the government saw a sudden jump in its income, which fueled many large embezzlements by well-known government officials.) What makes the people even angrier is that these government officials have not been prosecuted but keep their positions. Yet, a thief’s hand is amputated for a small crime. 

Religious double standards. They get angry when they see that the government’s morality police prosecutes the people over the slightest infraction of dress code, but the children of those in power host illegal parties (posting clips on social media) with no consequences. The people see that double standard and get mad when they see a teenage girl publicly prosecuted on television because she posted a clip of herself on Instagram dancing.

Vast economic inequality. They get angry when they see the lifestyle of those in power and their families. They see many Maseratis and Lamborghinis on the streets of Tehran, they see other luxurious trappings of the few in power, they look at themselves struggling with basic necessities, and they get angry.

Next week: Learn more about Iran’s government, Iran’s church, what the United States is doing, and what you can do in these historic days to make a difference in our world.