Iranian Lawmaker Warns Of Massive Uprisings In Coming Months

A conservative Iranian lawmaker has warned of massive uprisings in the country if the economic situation keeps deteriorating in the coming months.

Criticizing President Ebrahim Raisi’s decision to slash food subsidies, Ahmad Naderi said on Sunday that the government is on the wrong path on some issues.

He said that Raisi’s proposed reforms in the next year’s budget can endanger the entire Islamic Republic regime.

Raisi has been pushing to end cheap dollars allocated by the government to importers of essential food and medicine, as it faces a huge budget deficit.

Naderi also slammed the policies of former president Hassan Rouhani, saying that Raisi’s government cannot bring about miracles and undo “the catastrophes” that happened during eight years of Rouhani’s “neoliberal administration” in several months, but the new government should be in the right track.

“I warn that if these approaches continue, we will reach a point where we will see great social upheavals”, he said.

Earlier in the day, the parliament's budget review committee rejected Raisi's plans to eliminate the cheap dollar subsidy.

Workers and employees from various economic sectors, including teachers, nurses, firefighters, and even staff members of the judiciary department, hold regular protest rallies or strikes to demand better working conditions and salaries.

Food prices have risen by more than 60 percent in recent months, on top of high inflation in the previous three years, while the government is unable to sufficiently boost wages as United States sanctions impede full capacity oil exports and international trade.