Undoubtedly, one of the most challenging countries for women to live in is Iran. Everything about their lifestyle, education, and attire is tightly regulated by the government. However, many people would be surprised by these images from Sakirs in northwest Iran. In protest, the women removed their head coverings. "Death to the dictator," they shouted. This is by no means a trivial accomplishment in Iran. In this nation, head coverings are required. They must stay on; taking them off is illegal. So why would these women put themselves in danger of being arrested? What justifies this sudden display of sorrow? Let's go back in time to address that. 

Mahsa Amini, 22, was detained by Iran's moral policing brigade last week. Her offence? not putting on a veil. According to witnesses, the police struck her inside their van. Her wounds caused her to fall into a coma. She was then brought into a hospital in northern Tehran on the same day. She had no vital signs, according to doctors. The Iranian government then started an elaborate cover-up. The police initially denied hitting Amini.  They stated that she allegedly experienced heart failure while she was being held. The police statement was then edited. Every social media site had it removed. The people refused to give in. She has gained support from hundreds of women, and she has become a symbol of unity in Iran.

This campaign is not recent. Iranian women have repeatedly urged that the hijab rule be repealed. But what happened last week marked a turning point.  They finally reached a boiling point.  Many Iranian women protested online because not everyone can take to the streets.  The authorities are aware of this rage. A probe into Amini's passing has been mandated by President Ebrahim Raisi. But justice is doubtful given his past behaviour. Unfortunately, Raisi is a vocal opponent of the movement to ban headscarves. He recently referred to it as corrupting Islamic society. His priorities currently seem to be different as well. 

Iranian women are cutting off their hair and burning their headscarves/veils

Everyone who is observing can see that the Iranian people are nearing their breaking point. They are desperate. Some of the protests we've witnessed in recent days emanating from Iran are just amazing in their bravery and fortitude. Every time there is a protest, this ruthless, dictatorial government kills people in the street with live ammunition. Yet in recent days, we've witnessed demonstrations organised by women bold enough to take off their hijabs, light them on fire in the street, and wave them in front of police vehicles equipped with guns and water cannons. These are both very daring and very desperate signs. Iran's populace has had enough.

Protests are a sign of simmering discontent in Iran, but will they last?

Unfortunately, I believe it's very likely that, as we've seen often before, this cycle of protest will come to an end with severe repression and a slow, steady decline as more and more demonstrators are detained and removed from the streets. Many of us would like to believe that this will ignite the regime of flame in an unbreakable fashion. And I do believe it will happen eventually. This morally and financially corrupt leadership, which is mostly composed of elderly and devout men who don't represent the rest of the public, don't listen, and are unable to change themselves, is causing a wave of hatred, anger, and exasperation. In light of the fact that the public opinion, even that of the regime's traditional supporters—the Shia Muslims who were once the driving force behind the 1979 revolution—is now overwhelmingly opposed to it, I do believe that at some point the regime in Iran will be overthrown. I'm not sure if the time is right now, but I believe it will come, and even if it doesn't, it will in due course.

The Iranian administration claims that some of this violence was instigated by foreign agents or unnamed militants. Is it possible that there is some truth to that? But that is not how it appears at all. Clearly, this is a grassroots Iranian movement. It occurs on its own. Masta Amini, a young Kurdish woman, 22 years old, was simply moving around the streets dressed like 20% or 30% of the female population. She was donning a hijab, but it was placed further back on her head than the majority of women. There is some hair visible there, but she is still obedient. And as a result, the morality police detained her and killed her. This is the cause of the unplanned outburst of protest. I believe such a situation has been experienced by many people in Iran, including men. They've dealt with the morality police before, so it may have happened to them as well. For a large number of them, it really hit close to home. This movement is natural. Any assertions made by Iran about foreign spies or anything similar have zero credibility.

The news of the young woman's death, whose Kurdish name was Jhina, not only caused a wave of grief in Iran but also sparked strong worldwide condemnations from countries like the United Nations, the United States, and France.

Demonstrators cut their hair during a protest in solidarity with the women in Iran, following the death of Mahsa Amini, in Berlin, Germany

Nasser Kanani, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned what he called "foreign interventionist attitudes" on Tuesday night in response to worldwide condemnations.

Issa Zarepour, Iran's minister of communications, suggested on his own on Wednesday that Internet access would be restricted during protests "because to security concerns," according to a report from the ISNA news agency.

It's notable that the Iranian delegation, which includes Iranian President Raisi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, and others, is currently attending the UN General Assembly in New York. Instead of paying a visit to Mahsa Amini's grieving parents, they would flee their country which is now in flames. They would travel to the UN to begin spreading propaganda, including Holocaust denial, which President Raisi only recently reaffirmed in a 60 Minutes interview. Really, it's rather alarming, and we must hold them accountable. There were requests that Raisi's visa not be issued. That's quite challenging since all member states have access to the UN, but certain members of his group might have had their visas easily cancelled because they are also under international sanctions.

President Raisi's visit to the UNGA comes amidst rising pressure and a failed nuclear deal

The international community needs to relax its sanctions against Iran, and that is Raisi's top objective. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or simply the Nuclear Deal, is once again receiving attention. We came close to a deal twice this year. Initially in March, and then once again last month. Yet nothing happened in both those times. The nuclear agreement is still being supported. When President Raisi was recently questioned about the talks, he said that he needs guarantees. What assurances is he seeking? Are they justified?

The President has two key demands from these negotiations. First, in 2018, Donald Trump, then-president of the United States, pulled out of the nuclear agreement. No warnings or consultations. Trump made a unilateral withdrawal. Iran wants to prevent that from happening again. This time, it demands written commitments or guarantees that the US won't end the agreement on its own. But Biden is unable to accomplish that, which is the issue. The Iran nuclear agreement is a political agreement. It is not a convention or a treaty. Therefore, legally, Biden is unable to provide assurance. His successor is able to walk away from the agreement if they so want. And there is a good probability they will if it is a Republican. The second request? All further investigations by the UN Atomic Watchdog must be halted. At unreported places earlier this year, they discovered uranium traces. They naturally wanted to look into it. Iran, though, has declined to assist. They claim that only the ones that were authorised by the 2015 agreement can now proceed, and all additional investigations must be halted. Biden is unable to promise that. The United States is not responsible for the UN's nuclear watchdog. They decide when to start and when to stop an investigation.

Thus, the situation at hand is a total deadlock. Furthermore, neither party is to blame because Iran never actually reneged on the 2015 nuclear agreement. The Americans did. Therefore, they have every right to expect promises. Having stated that, Biden has no choice but to act. He is unable to foresee or guarantee the actions of his successor. Both parties in these conversations frequently require a "nudge," so to speak, to soften their rigid demands.

The oil prices might provide the solution for Biden. Let's assume that crude oil prices keep rising. What choice is Biden left with? Biden will now need to hunt for alternative sources since OPEC nations have declined to raise supplies. Iran enters the picture at this point. Their combined daily capacity is close to 8 million barrels. That oil may enter the market if the sanctions are eased. You are aware of the adage "greater supply, lower pricing." Regarding Iran, the economy might be the nudge. Their inflation is anticipated to exceed 50%. Iranians are experiencing a crisis in the cost of living, much like the rest of the globe. Could that, therefore, encourage Raisi to make some adjustments? That is the important question. Who wants it more?

Iranian women are protesting, here's why

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