cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/8117356

Ordinary Iranians from various parts of Iran describe expanding strikes, economic pain and fear of repression.

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We cannot give Setareh’s real name or say what kind of work she does - no detail that might possibly identify her to the regime’s secret police. But we can say that she is a young woman from Tehran who loved going to work, where she could meet her friends … Now the nightly bombing has stolen her ability to sleep naturally. She lies awake worrying about the present, and the future …

“We cannot afford even basic food. What’s in our pockets does not match market prices… Iran has also been under sanctions for years, and the problems created by the Islamic Republic means that during this time we couldn’t build any savings, at least enough to survive now or depend on something. To put it simply, the people I thought might have money to lend also don’t have anything.”

“I don’t know how this massive wave of unemployment will be handled. There is no support system and the government will do nothing for all these unemployed people. I believe the real war will start if this war ends without any outcome.” The outcome she wants is the end of the regime.

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