Iran Braces for Popular Backlash as Subsidies Are Slashed
themedialine / David Rosenberg
27-Oct-2010 (4 comments)

Prices for energy due to skyrocket, squeezing the pocketbooks of ordinary Iranians

From President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to housewives and
shopkeepers, all of Iran is on tenterhooks as the government readies to
slash the subsidies that have kept down the cost of everything from
gasoline to flour.

Ordinary Iranians, already hard-pressed by inflation
and unemployment, are hording goods and wondering how they will get
through the month as prices of basic goods jump. The government fears
the economic dislocation could spark renewed unrest.

“They are very, very much afraid of a backlash,”
Hossein Askari, a professor of international business and relations at
George Washington University in the U.S., told The Media Line. “Whenever
they try to lift subsidies or raise taxes they’ve always have
demonstrations. There’s not much room to squeeze people further.”

The subsidiary reform gets underway at a difficult
time for Iran, which is feeling pressure on multiple fronts. Sanctions
imposed by the United Nations to block the country’s nuclear-development
efforts were tightened in June, followed by even tougher unilateral
steps by Western countries. Also, the government remains tense about
internal opposition after Iranians took the streets to challenge the
results of 2009 elections.

The subsidies, begun to help beleaguered hou... >>>

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Roozbeh_Gilani

islamist regime is very frightened of the next uprising...

by Roozbeh_Gilani on Thu Oct 28, 2010 09:22 PM PDT

caused not by the lack of "political freedom" or "human rights". But due to shortage of bread, fuel and housing for the poor  working classes. The poor working class south Tehranis, have a habit of rejecting wishy washy  liberal ideas of "peaceful demostration" in favour of violent, AK47 led uprisings against their fascist tormenters. Dont believe me? Go and ask the elderly ex savaki exiles in southern CA, london and Toronto! 

That is precisely why so many islamist cowards have already ran away from Iran and have taken residence next door to their savaki pals in the west.

"Personal business must yield to collective interest."


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IranFirst

You are right Yolanda and Maryam Hojjat

by IranFirst on Thu Oct 28, 2010 07:48 PM PDT

This regime's interests has nothing to do with Iran and Iranains, they torture Iranains for asking for their wages, but give billions to Terrorists and to buy "friends" (because they are isolated by the civilized world)


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Maryam Hojjat

Down with IRR/IRI

by Maryam Hojjat on Thu Oct 28, 2010 07:48 AM PDT

For incompetecy, Crimes, corruptions and lies.  These are fruits of bunch of illiterated akhoonds who are anti-Iranians and giving cash to enemies of IRAN and sequeezing Persians.  Shame on them.  Shame on their supporters.


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yolanda

.....

by yolanda on Wed Oct 27, 2010 09:54 PM PDT

It is understandable that people are angry 'cause IRI gives free money to Afghanistan, Hezbollahs, and Hamas while cutting subsidies in Iran! It is indeed hard to swallow!

Thank you for posting!


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