Iran’s economy has taken a hit since President Trump unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 and renewed U.S. sanctions. Meanwhile, Iran has been warily eyeing protests in neighboring Iraq and Lebanon, where the political proxies it funds hold power. While expected for months, the decision still caught many by surprise and sparked immediate demonstrations overnight.”Protests initially remained largely peaceful and focused on the economy, according to news reports. ADADBut Rouhani — and the regime behind him — has weathered economic protests before. The International Monetary Fund estimates that Iran’s economy is expected to shrink by 9.5 percent in 2019 as a result of tighter U.S. sanctions.

Source: Washington Post November 16, 2019 20:30 UTC