Iran's film-maker Jafar Panahi says the Khamenei regime will ultimately collapse under its own brutal suppression, but it's impossible to predict when. The director believes the government is aware that its control over society can't be sustained in the face of growing unrest and violence.
"We know that this government cannot sustain itself in this situation," Panahi stated during an interview from the US, where he has been promoting his latest film, It Was Just an Accident, which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes last year. "They are aware that they can't rule over people; their only goal now is to bring the country to the brink of collapse and destroy it."
The regime's violent crackdown on protesters has already resulted in over 2,500 deaths, with many more injured. The recent internet blackout, which blocked almost all communication networks, was seen as a sign that a major massacre was imminent – although no one predicted the scale of the violence.
Panahi expressed his skepticism about the effectiveness of Western governments engaging with the clerical regime. "In other dictatorships around the world, you'll see rational actors who won't let things get this far," he said. "But unfortunately, in this system, there's no rationality – all they can think about is crushing dissent and staying in power, even if it means just one more day."
As protests continue to rage across Iran and among the Iranian diaspora worldwide, some have called for the return of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah. However, Panahi believes that any transition must be based on a democratic referendum, with the people deciding their own future.
"If we agree or disagree with Pahlavi, we know that the majority of the Iranian population wants this regime to go," he said.
"We know that this government cannot sustain itself in this situation," Panahi stated during an interview from the US, where he has been promoting his latest film, It Was Just an Accident, which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes last year. "They are aware that they can't rule over people; their only goal now is to bring the country to the brink of collapse and destroy it."
The regime's violent crackdown on protesters has already resulted in over 2,500 deaths, with many more injured. The recent internet blackout, which blocked almost all communication networks, was seen as a sign that a major massacre was imminent – although no one predicted the scale of the violence.
Panahi expressed his skepticism about the effectiveness of Western governments engaging with the clerical regime. "In other dictatorships around the world, you'll see rational actors who won't let things get this far," he said. "But unfortunately, in this system, there's no rationality – all they can think about is crushing dissent and staying in power, even if it means just one more day."
As protests continue to rage across Iran and among the Iranian diaspora worldwide, some have called for the return of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah. However, Panahi believes that any transition must be based on a democratic referendum, with the people deciding their own future.
"If we agree or disagree with Pahlavi, we know that the majority of the Iranian population wants this regime to go," he said.
. Jafar Panahi thinks the government knows it's only a matter of time before everything collapses under its own weight, but nobody can predict when that'll happen. It's like they're trying to create some kind of dystopian scenario where the regime just keeps pushing the country towards chaos 
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. What's their angle there? Are they trying to cover something up or what? And what about Western governments engaging with the clerical regime? Panahi thinks it's all just a bunch of nonsense because, in his opinion, there's no rationality behind it 
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? Nah, probably just me being paranoid 
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. And honestly, 2,500+ deaths is just the tip of the iceberg - there are so many more who have been quietly silenced or forced into exile. Panahi might be optimistic about democratic referendums, but I think that's just a pipe dream 
... what's to say the powers that be won't just rig the votes or intimidate voters? We'll just be stuck in this never-ending cycle of resistance and repression 
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. It's like, I don't think anyone can predict when this regime is gonna collapse under its own weight, but it's gotta happen eventually #JusticeForIran. Jafar Panahi makes a point that the government is aware they're losing control and just trying to bring the country to its knees 
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WE NEED TO SEE REAL CHANGE NOW, NOT JUST SOME HALF-BAKED SOLUTION LIKE BRINGING IN THE EX-KING OR SOMETHING. DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE HAVING A SAY, AND THAT'S WHAT PANAHI IS ALL ABOUT. LET'S GET BEHIND HIM AND MAKE SOME NOISE! 
I can feel the weight of all those lives lost in Iran... 2,500+ deaths is just heartbreaking. 
The thought of a democratic referendum is so important - it's the people's right to decide their own destiny. 
Let's keep supporting those who are standing up against this regime and demanding change! 
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. The problem is, it seems like the Iranian people are ultimately left to decide their own fate, which is both empowering and daunting at the same time 
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but what if our schools just had more space to discuss and disagree with each other? maybe we could learn from this situation and create a better system for ourselves 
. Can't we just support a peaceful transition and let the Iranian people decide their own future? 
? the dude is so right about khamenei's regime crumbling under its own brutal hand 
any transition has gotta go through a democratic referendum tho, not some exiled prince or anything... gotta give the ppl their say!