Why the once loyal bazaar merchants are now protesting in Iran
AI Summary
Recent protests in Tehran's main bazaar, involving merchants traditionally loyal to the Iranian regime, highlight growing economic discontent. Supreme Leader Khamenei acknowledged the bazaar's "legitimate grievances" while condemning broader unrest, but his attempts to separate the two have failed. The bazaar, a key supporter of the 1979 revolution, has seen its economic power decline over the past two decades due to state favoritism towards the IRGC and bonyads, sanctions, and inflation. This economic marginalization has transformed a former base of support into a source of opposition, as merchants now protest against the government, prompting tear gas responses from authorities. The protests expose the limits of the state's narrative control amid widespread dissatisfaction.
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This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).
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