From Tehran to Baghdad: The Economic Shock as a Gateway to Chaos

It must first be acknowledged that any reading of what is happening in Iraq today, or what occurred in Iran at the beginning of November, cannot be separated from the accelerating U.S. military buildup in the region. Recent history has taught us that the economy precedes the cannon, and when the Pentagon decides on a course, the U.S. Treasury becomes the executive tool for that decision—planning, funding, and implementation.

This link became clear after the serious admissions made by the U.S. Treasury Secretary before Congress, when he openly spoke of a strategy aimed at creating economic turmoil inside Iran. More dangerous still, as the Secretary himself admitted, is the presence of partners inside Iran and Iraq who support these policies, whether knowingly or unknowingly.

Dangerous Parallels Between Iran and Iraq

What happened in Iran and what is happening today in Iraq are not separate events; they share a trajectory that must be taken seriously:

1. The Iranian Case: The Pezeshkian government implemented harsh economic measures that directly impoverished the middle and lower classes, creating unprecedented public tension. The most shocking of these measures was raising the official dollar rate from 28,500 tomans to 131,000 tomans.

The results were:

Rapid collapse of the national currency Severe inflation Deepening gap between rich and poor Explosion of public anger in the streets

These protests later turned into bloody violence, leaving thousands of civilian and security force casualties, amid clear U.S. and Israeli interventions. Despite external factors, the Iranian government bears primary responsibility for this disaster, having chosen economic shock over less destructive alternatives.

2. The Iraqi Case: **👌In Iraq, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani’s government began implementing similar measures, notably raising customs duties on certain imports to around 30%. This triggered widespread strikes among shop owners and wholesalers, and led to the closure of many markets in Baghdad and other provinces.

🤔The danger is compounded by timing: these measures are being enforced just before Ramadan, the most sensitive period for economic activity and consumer demand. This means double pressure on both citizens and the market. Some may justify these policies with arguments about controlling borders or curbing smuggling and tax evasion. But the core question remains: at what cost? Is it logical to pursue reforms that crush the middle class, drain the poor, and deprive the market of vital goods stuck at border crossings? 🔹Especially when the causes of deficit are well known:

✌ An economy dependent on U.S. management of oil revenues ✌ Deep-rooted corruption in state institutions ✌ Chronic government failure to hold major corrupt figures accountable

Meanwhile, salaries of the three presidencies remain untouched, the world’s most expensive parliament continues unchecked, and certain officials’ offices have turned into economic empires.

🌕3. The Political Cover: 🫶In Iran, Pezeshkian’s government did not act alone; without political cover, it would not have dared to implement such economic shock despite opposition.

🙌In Iraq, the scene is even clearer and more frustrating: a dormant parliament, and a State Administration Coalition—comprising Shiite, Sunni, and minority ruling forces—issuing statements stressing the need to support government economic reforms and decisions to control borders and curb smuggling and tax evasion. 🌕But this political support practically means prioritizing the cost of reform over the people, instead of pursuing real reform: prosecuting the corrupt, recovering stolen funds, and taxing the wealthy.

🔴 Final Warning

✌Iraqi politicians must listen carefully to the voice of the market, and to the cries of the middle and poor classes before it is too late. What happened in Iran is less than a month old, and the lesson is still fresh.

Military fleets have reached the Arabian Sea, and the notion that Iraq is safe from war is a dangerous illusion. ISIS lurks at the borders, while inside the country a Trojan horse exists in overcrowded prisons filled with ISIS members—many transferred after the collapse of the SDF—waiting for the zero hour.

👋The United States did not come to the region to protect its peoples, but to exhaust them economically, implode them from within, and pave the way for Israel’s interests. 🙌We are talking about sovereignty, security, Iraq’s unity, and its future.

🔽Abandon your personal interests, and extinguish the strife before it spirals out of control.

“Make the Enemy Despair”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a televised address to the Iranian people, on the eve of the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution and “God’s Day” – February 11.

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate

February 11th each year is the day the dignity and power of the Iranian nation are revealed. A nation, by God’s grace, full of drive, firm in will, steady in steps, loyal, and aware of its interests and dangers. On that first “22 Bahman,” the Iranian people achieved a great victory—rescuing themselves and their country from foreign domination. Those foreigners have tried ever since to restore the old order, but the people stood firm, and 22 Bahman became the symbol of that resilience.

These marches are unmatched anywhere in the world. Nowhere else do we see such massive crowds decades after independence, proving the nation’s presence year after year. Today again, the Iranian people demonstrate their existence, forcing the greedy to retreat from Iran, the Republic, and the people’s interests.

National power is not first about missiles or planes—it begins with the will and endurance of the people. You have shown this resilience; show it again in every arena, and make the enemy despair. As long as the enemy has hope, the nation remains exposed. The enemy’s despair depends on your unity, your thought, your will, your drive, and your resistance. These are the foundations of national power.

Our youth will advance, God willing, in science and work, in piety and ethics, in material and spiritual progress—bringing more honor to their country. February 11th is the manifestation of all this: people in the streets, raising slogans, declaring truths, showing solidarity and loyalty to the Islamic Republic.

We hope, God willing, that this year’s 22 Bahman—like past years—will magnify the greatness of the Iranian people, compelling nations, governments, and powers to bow before this nation’s grandeur. And so it shall be, God willing.