"It's the Economy, Stupid." Trials and Tribulations of the Iranian Economy (Perspectives‪)‬

The possible implosion of Iran's theocratic regime due to economic pressure reminds one of the quote: "It's the economy, stupid." These famous four words from Bill Clinton's successful US presidential campaign against George Bush in 1992 have an eerie connotation when considered in the context of untangling the myriad of issues in today's Middle East, and specifically Iran. Years of economic sanctions on Iran have not changed the regime's behavior--as some in Washington have hoped for--but the behavior of the Iranian people has changed towards their government due to mismanagement of Iran's economy. Iranians know that they should be living in the midst of wealth, but their leaders have bequeathed to them an economic crisis of monumental proportions. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]