Ongoing Protests in Iran Are an Extension of the Islamic Republic’s Founding Ethos

Protests in Iran are not, as of yet, an all-or-nothing proposition. We would do well to stop projecting our hopes and agendas onto Iranians bravely facing down the authorities, and to instead listen.

by Shervin Malekzadeh

Protests are on in Iran. As usual bad faith analysts and pop-up “experts” are eager to explain why the Islamic Republic is once again on its last legs and how the demise of the ayatollahs is imminent, all based on the single assumption that the regime is bad and the good people of Iran, young and mad as hell, are not going to take i…