Expert: Developments in Iran could have serious consequences for  Armenia

ArmInfo.Iran is currently experiencing perhaps the most important stage in its recent history, according to political analyst and co-founder of the "Bridge" civic  initiative, Arman Abovyan.

"What is happening in Iran has objective and subjective causes.  Without going to extremes, we must simply acknowledge that Iran is  currently experiencing perhaps the most important stage in its recent  history.  Internal instability. The collapse of the rial. The  country's influx of intelligence from enemy states. The constant  stress of war," the expert noted.

According to him, all of this naturally places a psychological burden  on ordinary Iranians. "But now we're not talking about protests;  we're talking about a systemic civil conflict involving the use of  weapons against the police and the murder of law enforcement  officers. The stakes for the US are very high. This isn't just oil  and gas; Iran is a key player in a vast region, from the Persian Gulf  to the border with China-just look at that circle. Iran is being led  to dismemberment, that's obvious. And if the worst-case scenario  unfolds, Armenia will face very, very serious consequences. Do we  understand what's happening and what awaits us? No, we won't,"  Abovyan asserted.

He regretfully noted that, outside of a small circle of politicians  and experts, no one can even imagine what will happen to the South  Caucasus region if the Iranian government falls. As a reminder,  protests in Iran erupted on December 28 following the collapse of the  national currency and the soaring prices of essential goods.  Initially a social protest, the protests escalated into riots, the  burning of buildings, and the killing of law enforcement officers.  Iranian authorities responded harshly to the protests.

The country's internet has been shut down for a third day.  Information about those detained and killed in Tehran and other  Iranian cities is contradictory. Amid the protests in Iran, the US  President threatened to strike the Iranian authorities if "peaceful  protesters" are killed. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote:   "The United States of America stands with the brave Iranian people."  In response, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf,  speaking to members of parliament on Sunday, January 11, stated that  Israel and American military bases would be legitimate targets for  Iran in the event of a US attack. 

Meanwhile, the exiled son of Iran's former Shah, Reza Pahlavi,  released a new video address, again calling on the population to take  to the streets, declaring his intention to return to Iran.