July 2022—In view of the state of absolute repression and the use of brute force in dealing with any form of opposition, could Iran’s ruling religious dictatorship be overthrown?
The regime celebrated the anniversary of the anti-monarchical revolution in February 2022, at a time when, after ruling for 43 years with an iron fist, it is facing crises from all directions, most notably at home.
Iran has been the scene of eight uprisings since 2018 with protesters openly calling for the regime’s overthrow. Just in 2021, there were three major uprisings. Protests by various social strata including teachers and pensioners have become a daily occurrence. To deal with a rapidly deteriorating situation, the regime has intensified its repression and turned protests into a bloodbath.
The conventional wisdom is that the more intense the repressive measures adopted by the regime, the greater the atmosphere of fear in society. Yet, Iran in 2022 the situation is quite the opposite. The impressive increase in the number of the Resistance Units, affiliated with People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), attests to this reality.
The Resistance Units’ objective is to act as a sledgehammer and crack the wall of repression and direct and pave the way for nationwide uprisings.
Only a glance at the first two months of 2022 shows the growth and impact of Resistance Units in Iranian society that has turned the tide against the regime.
On January 5, 202, the regime unveiled a six meters tall statue of Qassem Soleimani, the eliminated commander of the IRGC’s terrorist Quds Force, in Shahrekord’s, main square. The statue was set ablaze the same night by the Resistance Units.
On January 27, supporters of the Mojahedin Khalq and the Resistance Units disrupted the broadcast of 25 state television and radio networks by airing the images of Iranian Resistance’s leader Massoud Rajavi and the NCRI’s President-elect Maryam Rajavi on several national television channels.
They were also able to destroy more than 600 radio and television servers, sending shock waves throughout Iran In a frenzied reaction, the regime’s officials vowed revenge. After a few weeks, the regime has failed to fully recover its systems.
On February 9, the Resistance Units seized the control of the loudspeakers in Mashhad’s largest bazaar, airing the chants of “Death to Khamenei” and “Viva Rajavi.”
On February 10, amid the regime’s fanfare over the 43rd anniversary of its rule, the Resistance Units simultaneously seized the control of loudspeakers in shopping malls and public venues in four cities, Shahr-e Rey, Sarasiab, Fardis, and Shahriyar (west and south of Tehran), to broadcast the chants of “death to Khamenei, viva Rajavi” and “Neither the crown nor the turban, mullahs your days are numbered.”
On February 15, in a coordinated campaign, the Resistance Units set on fire to the government installed banners containing the images of Ali Khamenei, Khomeini, and Qassem Soleimani in various cities.
Meanwhile, daily informative campaigns such as posting the pictures of Massoud and Maryam Rajavi in public places in different cities of Iran have continued.
The presence of the Resistance Units and MEK supporters in Iran are so prevalent that even regime officials have long warned about it, voicing concern over the existential threat these units pose to the regime.
