Iran is in trouble. For six days in succession there have been street protests against price rises, bureaucratic corruption and the rapidly eroding value of the currency. Many parts of the country are struggling to cope with a water shortage. Young people are losing their fear of reprisal, taking off their head-scarves and filming themselves dancing in the streets in defiance of the religious police. Despite the authorities’ official scorn for the United States, there is an unmistakeable sense of accelerating decline.
The American sanctions, reimposed today by the administration of President Trump, will add to the daily discomfort. The signs so far are that many Iranians will blame the new measures on the shortcomings of the government of President Rouhani rather than on Washington.