Anti Hijab Protests in Iran & US Intervention.

What is happening on the streets across Iran today was also seen nearly 13 years ago, and the US viewed as a major troublemaker in Iran—having been involved in toppling the Governments and installing loyalists—preferred not to use it to their benefit. But now, it seems to have understood what can be achieved out of the street protests led by women who are demanding changes in the Hijab laws in the country, triggered by the custodial death of Mahsa Amini (22), a Kurdish-origin woman who has become the global face of the Iranian women’s cry for freedom.

US President Joe Biden has already spoken out in favour of the demonstrations and it is likely to show its support for the protestors when a motion to expel Iran from the UN committee on the status of women is put to a vote on December 14. The decision was made following a vote by the UN Human Rights Council on a motion put up by Germany and Iceland to form a fact-finding committee to look into the protests. Iran will undoubtedly boycott the committee of inquiry, but it won’t stop the rights council from investigating the various claims being made by those involved in the activities and by others with access to the actual events on the ground.

The US has a nuclear agreement with Iran that needs to be negotiated. During Donald Trump’s presidency, this agreement saw progress, but then everything was turned around. However, the US has recently wished to pursue it more but has not yet discovered conditions that are favourable to its interests. However, it is doing everything it can to tighten the noose of sanctions around Iran under the guise of protests and the excesses committed against protesters.

At the same time, the US draws attention to Iran’s assistance to Russia during its war in Ukraine, which will further isolate Iran internationally. The more isolated Iran becomes, the more it will turn to Russia; and turning to Russia means more sanctions, on top of whatever Iran may already be facing due to the anti-Hijab protests, which are far from over despite the government’s announcement that it would be disbanding the Morality Police. This will put an immediate end to US-Iran nuclear diplomacy, which currently seems to be the US’s primary goal.

Iran is currently blocked off from both its people and the rest of the world, according to the reality on the ground. Although the demonstrations in Iran may initially seem to be exclusively about the hijab, there is more going on than meets the eye. Iran may have to deal with new sanctions in the future. The US had a window to play its cards, which it is doing out of the spotlight, and Iranians had a chance to let it all out during the protests that followed Amina’s death. There is a lo going to happen soon!