While protesters in Iran may have been aggravated by the cutting of subsidies or the rising prices of basic goods such as bread, demonstrators currently on the streets of Iran have a clear message for the West: Their movement isn't about bread.
Over the weekend, five protesters were killed by the regime's anti-riot forces and dozens were arrested, according to The Foreign Desk's reporting.
Demonstrations continue in the majority of Iran's 31 total provinces despite the deadly use of force by the regime's anti-riot forces.
Videos that have been viewed by The Foreign Desk show regime forces not only dispersing tear gas and rounding up demonstrators, but multiple clips viewed by The Foreign Desk show officers shooting directly at protesters. Yet surprisingly, it appeared over the weekend that the crowds were getting bigger and the people were showing more bravery than before.
IPhone videos captured the tearing down of a billboard with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's image as well as protesters setting fire to two Basiji bases and a police station.
The will of the protesters can also be seen in the chants heard on the streets that now are calling for the toppling of the regime and the removal of Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi.
In several of the cities, demonstrators were heard evoking the name of the former King of Iran, Shah Reza Pahlavi with slogan "Rest in peace Reza Shah; What a mistake we made with the Revolution." Others called for the return of the exiled son of the Shah to return to Iran.
"The West should hear our voices. We do not have a future with this regime. They do not care about the people. That is why you hear the name of the Shah being repeated on the streets. The people would rather go back more than 40 years than to move forward with this regime," a young man named Farshid told The Foreign Desk. Farshid did not share his last name for security purposes.
