MEK Iran: State-run Media Warn Economic Conditions Will Lead to Rebellion

State-run media in Iran are reporting daily on the looming threat of another nationwide uprising. The reports stress the impact of the financial stress faced by the overwhelming majority of Iranians and the potential for that stress to lead to rebellion.

People of #Iran are taking to the streets to voice their discontent with the #Iranian regime People from all across the country from very different backgrounds have joined together to make the Iranian regime hear their dissenthttps://t.co/ABEVWHfFt0#MEK #COVID19 @USAdarFarsi pic.twitter.com/iXAcna8VTz

— MEK Iran (Mujahedin-e Khalq) (@MEK_Iran) May 16, 2020

Decades of corruption and mismanagement by the Iranian regime have led to widespread poverty and social unrest. Regime officials have been quick to blame the MEK for growing anti-regime sentiment and protest activity, and while it is true that the MEK’s Resistance Units have expanded significantly over the past two years, the MEK has attracted followers because it offers a viable democratic alternative to a religious dictatorship that has left 80 percent of the population living below the poverty line.

Thousands of banners and posters have been erected across many of Iran’s cities in recent days by supporters of the #PMOI #MEK #Iran The messages were from the leaders of the main opposition movement in Iran, #NCRIhttps://t.co/ZxGIOL0R6v #Iranian #coronavirus @USAdarFarsi pic.twitter.com/gs41y3X4VD

— MEK Iran (Mujahedin-e Khalq) (@MEK_Iran) June 8, 2020

‘Disastrous consequences’

On Tuesday, the state-run Hamdeli daily published an article comparing economic growth in 2018 and 2019. “Iranians have less and less to eat” explains how Iran’s worsening economy has led to an increase in food prices and a surge in poverty and food insecurity.

According to the report, food rations decreased by 4.5 percent between 2018 and 2019. “Javad Hosseinzadegan, head of the Iran Customs Center, issued a report saying that in 2019 families suffered a 4.5 percent decrease in their spending. The country’s economic growth was calculated at negative seven percent and non-oil economic growth stood at negative six percent,” the report added.

The increase in negative economic growth has caused a series of disastrous consequences for the already struggling people of Iran. Families are forced to survive on less food, the number of people living in slums has skyrocketed, and families have taken on excessive debt. Iran’s shrinking middle-class is on the verge of extinction because of the large number of people who have been driven into poverty.

The Hamdeli piece goes on to cite further economic deterioration that has occurred this year. The price of imported rice rose 85 percent between this July and last. Eggs rose 66 percent. The regime’s statistics show an increase of four to 85 percent in 21 out of 24 food items. 23 percent of Iranians have given up red meat or only eat it on special occasions due to its price. Some of Iran’s workers suffer from malnutrition due to a lack of access to affordable food.

‘Protests resulting from hunger’

“They always say that hungry people will pour into the streets. This means that poverty and hunger have the potential of leading to protests and massive unrest,” the state-run daily warned. “Protests resulting from hunger have sparked many political developments and even revolutions… Many global events have started with protests due to hunger and led to further demands…

Therefore, officials must realize that the impact of poverty is nothing simple and they should not downsize such a threat.

On Wednesday, August 19, workers of refineries and power plants in 54 centers of 23 cities in 12 provinces across #Iran continued their strikes for the nineteenth consecutive day.#IranProtestshttps://t.co/zoGoSvKbDK

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 20, 2020

‘Unpleasant developments’

The state-run Arman daily published a similar article on July 13 warning of a potential rebellion if economic conditions did not improve. “The extreme poverty index in Iran has increased by 26 percent during the past year alone… This report forecasts unpleasant developments in the future that are beginning to take shape in the depth of our society. During the past year, the people’s economic difficulties have increased extensively… the pressures imposed through our monetary and financial policies, and economic mismanagement have all resulted in lesser and lesser people being able to experience any leisure and recreation,” the paper wrote.

“Considering the increase in the country’s inflation and reaching the level of 50 percent, even worse consequences are awaiting our economy, especially for people’s living conditions. Of course, the situation will deteriorate even further and there will be even more dangerous consequences for the ruling state,” the article warned.