Although statements are issued periodically in his name, Khomeini has not been seen in public for many weeks. The axis around which conflict here is spinning is the death watch for 88-year-old spiritual leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who sources believe is quickly nearing the end of his years-long battle with prostate cancer. There have been other reports of public protests against privileges allotted to members of the Revolutionary Guards.
"Things have been changing quickly since the beginning of the year."Īmong the unprecedented events of 1988 have been street demonstrations and riots between supporters of conservative and radical clerical factions. "It is a political, social and economic crisis," said one diplomat. According to a number of western diplomatic and Iranian sources here, the pressures on and within the ruling regime are likely to resurface quickly and multiply. The Iran Air tragedy last Sunday, uniting the country once again in nationalistic outrage against an outsider, has brought a pause to mounting expressions of public dissatisfaction in recent months, and has overshadowed a widening schism between political factions here over the war with Iraq and the future of the revolution itself.īut the pause is likely to be only temporary. TEHRAN, JULY 9 - Eight years of war, international isolation and a failing economy are taking their toll on Iran's Islamic revolution.