The Heat: Protests in Iran expose tensions

Over the last week, Iran has been hit with a wave of protests against the government that began with many demanding action over economic issues like the cost of living and unemployment.

Some of the demonstrations turned deadly with reports of more than 20 killed. The unrest is one of the biggest challenges Iran’s leadership has faced since the disputed presidential election in 2009.

But tens-of-thousands have also attended pro-government rallies. Leaders have pointed to outside interference. And, on Wednesday, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared the defeat of what he called “sedition” in his country.

To discuss all angles of the protests in Iran:

Reza Marashi, research director for the National Iranian American Council.
Kaveh Afrasiabi, an author and political scientist and is an expert on Iranian foreign affairs.
Dorothy Parvaz, global politics reporter at ThinkProgress.
Alexander Azadgan, a professor of international political economy and a geopolitical analyst.

Iran Protests Around the World

People protest in solidarity with Iranians from London to Romania.

Protester hold placards during a demonstration in support of the Iranian people amid a wave of protests spreading throughout Iran, on January 3, 2018, in Brussels.
Violent demonstrations have rocked Iran since December 28, 2017, leaving at least 21 people dead, with protests that started over the economy turning against the Islamic regime as a whole. The wave of demonstrations, that kicked off in second city Mashhad on December 28 and quickly spread, is the biggest in the tightly controlled country since unrest over a disputed election in 2009. / AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND — BELGIUM-IRAN-UNREST-DEMO
Protester hold placards during a demonstration in support of the Iranian people amid a wave of protests spreading throughout Iran, on January 3, 2018, in Brussels. Violent demonstrations have rocked Iran since December 28, 2017, leaving at least 21 people dead, with protests that started over the economy turning against the Islamic regime as a whole. The wave of demonstrations, that kicked off in second city Mashhad on December 28 and quickly spread, is the biggest in the tightly controlled country since unrest over a disputed election in 2009. / AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND

Protesters hold placards reading "Support Iranians risen up against the religious dictatorship" as they stand behind a portrait of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani with shoe marks over it during a demonstration in support of the Iranian people amid a wave of protests spreading throughout Iran, on January 3, 2018, in Paris.
Violent demonstrations have rocked Iran since December 28, 2017, leaving at least 21 people dead, with protests that started over the economy turning against the Islamic regime as a whole. The wave of demonstrations, that kicked off in second city Mashhad on December 28 and quickly spread, is the biggest in the tightly controlled country since unrest over a disputed election in 2009. / AFP PHOTO / Lionel BONAVENTURE — FRANCE-IRAN-UNREST-DEMO
Protesters hold placards reading "Support Iranians risen up against the religious dictatorship" as they stand behind a portrait of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani with shoe marks over it during a demonstration in support of the Iranian people amid a wave of protests spreading throughout Iran, on January 3, 2018, in Paris. Violent demonstrations have rocked Iran since December 28, 2017, leaving at least 21 people dead, with protests that started over the economy turning against the Islamic regime as a whole. The wave of demonstrations, that kicked off in second city Mashhad on December 28 and quickly spread, is the biggest in the tightly controlled country since unrest over a disputed election in 2009. / AFP PHOTO / Lionel BONAVENTURE

People hold a banner in support of protesters in Iran reading "Freedom of speech" in English, Romanian and Farsi on January 3, 2018 during a protest outside the Iranian Embassy in the Romanian capital Bucharest.
Violent demonstrations have rocked Iran since December 28, 2017, leaving at least 21 people dead, with protests that started over the economy turning against the Islamic regime as a whole. The wave of demonstrations, that kicked off in second city Mashhad and quickly spread, is the biggest in the tightly controlled country since unrest over a disputed election in 2009. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel MIHAILESCU — ROMANIA-IRAN-POLITICS-DEMO
People hold a banner in support of protesters in Iran reading "Freedom of speech" in English, Romanian and Farsi on January 3, 2018 during a protest outside the Iranian Embassy in the Romanian capital Bucharest. Violent demonstrations have rocked Iran since December 28, 2017, leaving at least 21 people dead, with protests that started over the economy turning against the Islamic regime as a whole. The wave of demonstrations, that kicked off in second city Mashhad and quickly spread, is the biggest in the tightly controlled country since unrest over a disputed election in 2009. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel MIHAILESCU

GERMANY-IRAN-DEMONSTRATION
Demonstrators protest with banners against the policy of Iran in front of Iran's consulate in Hamburg, northern Germany, on January 3, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / dpa / Axel Heimken / Germany OUT

BRITAIN-IRAN-PROTEST-UNREST
Protesters wave flags as they gather outside the Iranian Embassy in central London on January 2, 2018, in support of national demonstrations in Iran against the existing regime. / AFP PHOTO / Ben STANSALL

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Iran deploys Revolutionary Guards to quell 'sedition' in protest hotbeds https://t.co/xAVruGMH1X

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 3, 2018

Analysis: Why the other Iran is taking to the streets https://t.co/Fy4UoN0n7W @PoliticoMag pic.twitter.com/Plo9LQLYVu

— POLITICO (@politico) January 3, 2018

AMERICA

The Heat: Protests in Iran expose tensions

Anand Naidoo

Iran Protests Around the World

People protest in solidarity with Iranians from London to Romania.

For more:

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