Staff Reports
Iran’s streets are erupting in widespread protests as citizens fed up with hyperinflation, a collapsing rial, and government mismanagement take bold stands against the ayatollah’s regime. Demonstrations have spread to over 270 locations across 27 provinces, with bazaars shuttered and chants of “Death to Khamenei” echoing from Tehran to remote cities. Security forces have clashed violently with protesters, resulting in at least 36 deaths, including children, and over 1,200 arrests, yet the unrest shows no signs of fading. Ordinary Iranians, squeezed by soaring prices and dwindling savings from years of sanctions and corruption, demand real change rather than empty promises from Tehran.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has spotlighted how the regime’s obsession with nuclear dreams, funding terrorists like Hezbollah and Hamas, and regional meddling has ruined the economy while ignoring its people. He praises the current wave as larger and more potent, crediting the maximum pressure from President Trump’s policies that have exposed the ayatollahs’ failures. Pompeo even hailed potential Mossad involvement alongside protesters, signaling that Iran’s isolation is cracking under strong American and Israeli resolve. This leadership in Tehran has diverted resources from fixing hyperinflation and shortages to futile military ambitions, leaving households in despair.
President Trump has drawn a clear line, warning that if the regime slaughters peaceful demonstrators—as it customarily does—the United States stands “locked and loaded” ready to rescue the Iranian people. This firm stance marks a sharp departure from the weak silence of past administrations like Obama’s, which abandoned protesters in 2009 and emboldened the mullahs through secret deals and inaction. Unlike those timid responses that signaled U.S. weakness, Trump’s bold rhetoric and actions project real support, giving Iranians hope that the world backs their fight against oppression. Such leadership deters brutality and pressures the regime toward accountability.
The Iranian government’s feeble claims of pursuing a “peaceful nuclear program” ring hollow amid its terror sponsorship and protest crackdowns, as critics rightly note. President Masoud Pezeshkian orders investigations, but with over 250 police and Basij forces injured and loyalties wavering, the regime’s grip appears shakier than ever. External threats from Israel and sustained U.S. sanctions amplify internal fury, proving that prioritizing proxy wars over citizens’ lives invites downfall. True peace demands ditching extremism for economic revival and freedom.
America’s decisive hand extends beyond Iran, as seen in the successful strikes that captured Venezuela’s tyrant Nicolás Maduro, paving the way for that nation’s recovery and oil-driven prosperity. Pompeo highlights these parallel victories, showing how Trump’s unyielding strategy topples despots and empowers the oppressed in both countries. By backing freedom fighters and crushing socialist failures, the U.S. not only secures its interests but inspires a global wave against tyranny. Iran’s people, much like Venezuelans, deserve this shot at self-determination, and strong support ensures they seize it.
