Iran Regime's Days May Be Numbered

Opposition's tenacity could signal 'breaking point' for Tehran: experts

By M. Morris, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 28, 2009 5:33 PM CST

(Newser) – The anti-government protests that started in Tehran this weekend show that the opposition movement still has plenty of fight in it—and could eventually topple the clerical regime. Though the fraudulent election was a full 6 months ago, the protesters, whose efforts reach the world on YouTube, appear uncowed by riot police and Basij strongmen. That suggests the regime's usual weapons of oppression have lost some of their punch.

The Islamic republic's "power over these past 30 years has been intimidation of anyone who's dissented," says one Iran expert, who calls the current protests "the most significant challenge" the regime has yet faced. "I think they've taken the Iranian authorities by surprise," another analyst tells CNN. "They're still coming out in huge numbers, and morale seems to be stronger amongst the opposition than among the security forces. This could very well end up being one of those indicators that this is going cause a dramatic change, not only in Iran but in the region as a whole."

[Images (2)]

[Videos (2)]

Iranian mourners circle around a tent which is set on fire, in a ceremony commemorating Shiites' holy day of Ashoura, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Mehr News Agency, Majid Asgaripour)

This photo, taken by an individual not employed by the Associated Press and obtained by the AP outside Iran shows Iranian protestors beating police officers, during anti-government protest in Tehran,... (AP Photo)

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CNN reports on the Iranian protests, with copious videos of demonstrations from this weekend and today. (MoxNewsDotCom)

Raw video from a protest in Tehran, Iran on the 28 of December 2009. (CheckThisChannelOut)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 22 comments

JoeQ

Dec 29, 2009 12:51 PM CST

Now there's a rigorous statement: "Days May Be Numbered". Of course the number could be huge.

justme

Dec 29, 2009 12:35 PM CST

Cat lover, The biggest difference between there and here is that we have a revolution, sometimes big, sometimes small, every two years. The radicals, left or right must face actual elections. Those guys set up fixed outcomes and call them elections.

Spudsy

Dec 29, 2009 12:30 PM CST

Hopefully we can work with a new government in Iran to stabilize the mid east. Trick is to let them get a new government on their own and not try to shove an oil company whore like the Shah was down their throats. This could be the first government in the mid east that understands the folly of combining church and state.

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Iran Regime's Days May Be Numbered