More demonstrations planned Sunday

Iran’s former Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi, who lives in exile, is once again rallying support for demonstrations against the current regime. In a recent message, he has urged Iranians to take to the streets on Sunday, following calls for protests on Thursday and Friday. Pahlavi has encouraged demonstrators to bring the lion-and-sun flag and other national emblems from the era of the shah, seeking to inspire a sense of reclaiming public spaces.

Pahlavi’s connections with Israel have previously sparked controversy, especially following the conflict that lasted 12 days. While some protestors have been heard chanting in favor of the former shah, it remains uncertain if this reflects support for Pahlavi himself or a nostalgia for Iran’s pre-1979 Islamic Revolution era.

The wave of demonstrations that began on December 28 was initially sparked by the sharp decline of the Iranian rial, which has plummeted in value to more than 1.4 million against the US dollar. This economic crisis is largely due to stringent international sanctions, partly imposed because of Iran’s nuclear activities. What started as economic discontent has now escalated into broader calls for challenging the governing theocracy in Iran.