That's because the government doesn't believe these demonstrations (4 weeks now) are legitimate and they will do everything they can to minimize it and/or suppress it. Not surprising.

there are 2 possible outcomes:

1. protests stop, for now, people get tired to fight; but the government will make note of this, for better or for worse

2. with the "help" of US, some kind of revolution which will topple the government etc. which ultimately will make things worse for the people of Iran but will be a win for the US

> 2. with the "help" of US, some kind of revolution which will topple the government etc. which ultimately will make things worse for the people of Iran but will be a win for the US

I don't believe the result of a coup is that cut-and-dry. The current government of Iran is democratically elected by only the most charitable of definitions. A majority of the animosity between the US and Iran is at the governmental level. A truly democratic Iran could easily become a viable and strong ally for the US in the region, offsetting our reliance on Saudi Arabia and Israel for regional influence. Of course, it could go the other way. But I don't think it is clear at all that the fall of the Islamic Republic would be a net-negative for the people of Iran.

Why do you think we rely on Israel for regional influence? I'd say it's the other way around.

I think its symbiotic. Israel get weapons and support, the United States gets an ally in the Middle East.

This is reminiscent of Soviet psychiatry and the diagnosis of "sluggish schizophrenia" for dissidents.