Protests in Iran: Why? What Impact? How should the U.S Respond?

Despite months of street demonstrations over bank closures and unpaid salaries, the scale of the current protests in Iran came as a surprise. At a time when the government has been unable to do much about persistent unemployment, inflation, and stagnant incomes, has discontent reached the point that some Iranians could turn to violence? What strategies might the regime use to contain the protests? How will regional actors such as Hezbollah respond, and what impact will the demonstrations have on Tehran’s activities abroad? Last but not least, what are the best policy options for the U.S. government? Mehdi Khalaji, the Institute’s Libitzky Family Fellow, who is preparing a study about Sunni discontent in Mashhad, where the protests began. (He will participate via video teleconference.) Patrick Clawson, the Institute’s Morningstar Senior Fellow and director of research, who is analyzing the sources of Iran’s poor economic performance relative to what its people expect. Micha