Iran Analysis: Assessing the Bazaar Strikes & a Political Twist (Verde)

Mr Verde analyses for EA:

Despite a dramatic government climbdown over an increase in business taxes, the protests of merchants in the Tehran Bazaar seems to be continuing. There are reports that tear gas was used by security forces in the Bazaar on Wednesday and a representative of the merchants was arrested. It has also been claimed that the strike has spread to other cities too.

For the Islamic Republic, the Bazaar is an important institution. It provided a lot of support to the clerics before the 1979 Revolution and has been a steady backer of the regime ever since. Motalefeh, the prominet "conservative" faction, has very strong links with the Bazaar and indeed is known as the Bazaaris' political party. I am guessing that the arrest of one of their representatives is not going to go down well. [Editor's note: EA has noted in recent days the increasing tension, inside and outside Parliament, between Motalefeh and the Ahmadinejad Government.]

The Bazaar did not back the anti-regime protests last year. The Bazaaris mostly kept quiet and did not endorse or condemn either side. Motalefeh at the time supported the Government and Supreme Leader. The emergence of Bazaar protest, albeit for different reasons than the post-election demonstrations, indicates that the government is not only unable to mend fences but is also making new enemies.

Another ominous sign could be this news:

Abbas Palizdar --- a supporter of Ahmadinejad who made speeches claiming that almost all senior clergy were corrupt and was later jailed for it --- has re-surfaced. Now free, he is saying that most of his allegations were baseless lies fed to him by Ahmadineajd supporters. He also said that Ahmadinead’s accusations of corruption against former President Hashemi Rafsanjani and former Presidential candidate Nategh-Nouri, made during the televised campaign debate with Mousavi last year, were based on his "information". He also claims that Ahmadinejad had promised to make him the Ministry of Industry.

Comments

[A short analysis of Tehran&#82]

[...] that the government is not only unable to mend fences but is also making new enemies.”source: Enduring America   کلیدواژه ها: strike, Tehran Bazaar google_ad_client = "pub-5902331370831172"; /* [...]

[Arshama]

Thank you, Mr Verde, for your insight into the relations between Bazaaris and Motalefeh.
I fully agree that the government is making new ennemies. Perhaps one should add the newest front against Qalibaf, Khabar Online reported on Wednesday about the government preparing a complaint against Tehran's city council:
http://www.khabaronline.ir/news-73786.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.khabaronline.ir/news-73786.aspx

Regards,
Arshama

[Catherine]

RE Abbas Palizdar - now in English:
http://www.roozonline.com/english/news/newsitem/article/2010/july/09//ahmadinejad-betrayed-me.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.roozonline.com/english/news/newsitem...