Former Iranian Vice President Mohammad Ali Abtahi said that Iran's economic crisis is deeply tied to the impact of foreign policy and sanctions, warning that foreign interference could delegitimize genuine domestic demonstrations.
Protests erupted since late last month in several Iranian cities over the sharp depreciation of the Iranian currency, the rial. Initially peaceful, the protests gradually turned violent, resulting in casualties and damage to public property, mosques, government buildings, and banks.
Iranian authorities have said they are prepared to address economic grievances, while warning against violence, vandalism, and unrest.
In an exclusive interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Tehran on Tuesday, Abtahi shared his views on the ongoing protests, and said that economic discontent and generational divides are key drivers of current public dissatisfaction.
"There are many people who are dissatisfied, and there are different reasons for this. One of the main explanations is economic dissatisfaction, which is rooted in our foreign policy and the difficulty of establishing international relations and lifting sanctions, a process that faces resistance from some groups inside Iran. Therefore, as long as economic problems continue, dissatisfaction will remain serious," he said.
"Another reason is the presence of Generation Z. This generation has different demands compared to decision-makers who are over 70 years old. The new generation is demanding social and individual freedoms. In my opinion, some extremist groups have not cooperated with the new generation, and economic, political, and cultural conditions together have created different groups of dissatisfied people," he continued.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to intervene, urging Iranian people to continue protesting and saying "help is on the way" in a social media post, while there have also been claims that members of Israel's intelligence agency Mossad had infiltrated and escalated the protests into riots.
Abtahi emphasized that any foreign meddling, especially by the United States and Israel, risks hijacking legitimate calls for reform.
"I believe that so far the US and Israel—especially Israel—have been already involved in organizing the rioters, not the protesters, by providing them with what they need. However, Mr. Trump is a new phenomenon who does not care about international law, international norms, or even the limits of presidential authority. His interference in Iran’s internal affairs would undermine and weaken the demands of real protesters, because no nation—especially the Iranian nation with its rich history—would accept interference from other countries," said Abtahi.
Former Iranian VP warns foreign interference undermines demands of real protesters
