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Mohammad Hanif Jazayeri, editor of Free Iran – an anti-government organisation, said the current protests are now directly challenging authority in the country.
He added: “While the protests began initially over the dire economic situation and mismanagement, the chants quickly turned political.
“Once an unimaginable sight, today chants of ‘death to Khamenei’, the leader and ‘death to Rouhani’ the President, are now the norm in protests of all sizes.”
But, Mr Jazayeri added the tyrannical regime in Tehran did not turn a blind eye to being directly challenge and launched a massive crackdown in response.
As a result, dozens of protesters were killed in the streets or were being held in detention centres.
The regime also targets protesters – identified during rallies – and arrests them “discreetly” or in the following days in their own homes.
GETTY PROTEST: Iranians have taken to the streets since December last year
It has also greatly enhanced security on the streets of the capital, but has difficulty securing more remote regions, with local forces often requesting backup from the larger urban centres.
Following the ousting of the Shah (Emperor) of Iran in 1979, the previously western-looking nation has become an international pariah, and has at various times been accused of aiding terrorists and stoking conflicts across the Middle East.
With little support from major international players, and an intense rivalry with neighbouring Sunni Saudi Arabia, the Islamic Republic has continued to suppress dissent while continuing to support Shia allies in the region.
These actions put further strain on relations between Washington and Tehran, with the former accusing Iran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons.
GETTY PICTURES – BEATEN: Iranians who took to the streets were attacked by regime guards
Under the deal the US would lift crippling sanctions in return for guarantees that the country would no longer enrich uranium to weapons-grade capabilities.
With Donald Trump in office, however, the deal was torn up and sanctions were reimposed on the nation.
In response, thousands of Iranians took the the street demanding the overthrow of the Government.
While previous attempts at demonstration had been self-contained events, Mr Jazayeri said the strength of recent protests is due to a new-found organisation among the people.
He added: “One way this can be seen is through the coordinated nature of the slogans that are being chanted from completely different sectors of society.
GETTY – POWER PLAY: Iran wants to extend its influence over the Middle East
“In recent months the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI) has set up ‘resistance units’ whose goal is to organise anti-government protests.
“They’ve actually been very successful thus far, not least due to the public’s support for their goal.”
He added Mayam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, which supports the protesters, has produced a 10-point platform for a democratic Iran, which is its end goal.
It commits to open democracy, abolition of the death penalty and separation of church and state.
The plan, put forward in April 2006, has been met with approval from numerous organisations in Europe and the US.
