The Iranian state-run media is warning of the public’s plan to boycott the presidential elections in June and the consequences this would have for the regime.
The Arman daily wrote Tuesday 20 April 2021: “According to political activists, the overall public satisfaction of the country’s situation, officials’ indifferences to people’s demands and other important events, are the most important reasons for the low turnout [in the upcoming] elections.”
The “important events” brushed over in that quote are the November 2019 uprising, during which the regime killed 1,500 protesters, the out-of-control coronavirus pandemic, and the dire economic situation caused by the regime’s corruption.
The Iranian already boycotted the parliamentary elections in February 2020, despite the regime essentially hiding the coronavirus outbreak to increase turnout, and the media say that this will be far worse. Why?
Arman wrote: “[Due to] many economic, social and political problems, the disorganization of branches, disregard for people’s demands, and the failure to fulfil those demands… Millions of youth are unemployed, and millions are addicted, in debt, or struggling with inflation. Why you don’t solve their problems?”
The article went on to reject the regime’s claims that the economic problems are caused by international sanctions and that this is the only reason for the issues in Iran.
Meanwhile, the Eghtesad-e Pouya wrote Monday,19 April 2021 that the economic issues in Iran are too deep to be solved even if the warring (but still not that different) factions joined together and worked with a comprehensive economic plan. The article stressed that the people don’t think that a new president would change matters, instead seeking a “comprehensive change”, which would be the overthrow of the regime.
It’s not just the media that is making these warnings. On April 16, Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) senior commander Hamid Reza Jalaie-Pour said that the country was “filled with dissatisfaction” and that, if this dissatisfaction was not resolved, there would be “problems” for the regime.
Of course, it is possible that it wouldn’t matter what the regime did anymore; that they are past the point of no return; that no move could stop the burning rebellion shown in the streets. Essentially, the regime is in checkmate and there are no more moves to play. The only way this ends is with the mullahs out of power. The Iranian Resistance wrote: “Due to the regime’s malign policies and illicit activities, Iran’s economic and social crises have reached an irreversible point. The regime has no solution for these crises.”
