PROTESTS in Iran are the most significant in 40 years and a “real threat” to the regime there, former US national security advisor John Bolton has told GB News.
He was commenting on reports that the army is poised to intervene in an effort to quell the protests following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
She died after being arrested by the morality police for allegedly breaching the country’s strict women’s dress code.
“I think it’s very significant,” said Mr Bolton. “It’s important that people understand these demonstrations are not taking place just in Tehran, but really across the country.
“They build on earlier demonstrations unrelated to women’s rights or women’s issues, but showed a lot of dissatisfaction out in the countryside among farmers and small businesspeople with the regime.
“But what’s happened here, I think is unique, really in the 40 year plus history of the Islamic Revolution…
“What’s happened is these demonstrations are explicit and clear about criticism of the regime itself, not just this terrible incident, but the regime itself and its policies.
Speaking live to Arlene Foster on GB News, he added: “The fact that it is the early days and even still, largely led by women is very significant. Some of the things they’re doing are burning headscarves.
“This has just not been seen before at this level. And significantly, something like 70% of the population of Iran is under 30-years-old.
“These are the young women who know there’s a different kind of light, they can see it across the Gulf, they can see it on the internet, and that’s what they’re saying.
“I think this is potentially a real threat to the regime.”
Asked about the country’s nuclear programme, he said: “Its pursuit of nuclear weapons is what’s encouraging other countries in the region to look at nuclear weapons as well.
“I thought the deal in 2015 was bad, because it allowed Iran to continue to enrich uranium, purportedly for civil electrical purposes, but there’s no indication the regime has ever shifted from their desire to get nuclear weapons.
“…the Biden administration is trying to negotiate and throw the regime an economic lifeline, unfreezing billions and billions of dollars of assets to permit them to continue their terrorist activities in pursuit of nuclear weapons, at a time when your television has been showing that the people of Iran are venting frustrations with exactly this regime.
“It’s not the Iranian people who are the problem here. It’s the regime.”
