There are a number of reasons why Iranians by the tens of thousands have taken to the streets of major cities to protest the regime, but among them is Tehran’s meddlesome foreign policy.
Iran has attempted to spread its influence and military assistance throughout the war-torn Middle East — in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen, among other regions — all in an attempt to dominate the region.
“Placards criticizing corruption are rampant, and some demonstrators have even chanted death to the dictator, referring to Khamenei. Protesters have also railed against the costs of Iran’s foreign adventures: One of the earliest chants was, ‘Not Gaza, not Lebanon, my life for Iran,'” said one report.
While the people see their subsidies for basic goods reduced — which hits poor and lower-middle-class citizens hardest — protesters are objecting to the fact that the Iranian government is spending billions to supply weapons, armaments and monetary support to proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas. Each year Iran’s mullahs spend around $800 million on Hezbollah alone.
Costs to sustain the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad alone have cost Iran billions. [source]
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