The protests that erupted across the Islamic Republic of Iran on December 28 are still running a week later, and it is now impossible for Western media to ignore them. The first major demonstrations took place in Mashhad, the country’s second most populous city, but protests have now spread to more than 100 cities. The large-scale gatherings were predictably followed by reports of clashes between peaceful demonstrators and Tehran’s repressive security forces. And the Iranian regime is now in a full-scale panic.

The demonstrations are indicative of the fierce discontent on the Iranian street and a growing frustration with the regime’s corruption, incompetence, and badly misplaced priorities.