Iran is in turmoil with widespread demonstrations which have happened before and been crushed with gunfire, arrests, imprisonment and torture but this time there is a sense that “it is different”. The 49 year repressive, theocratic dictatorship of the ‘beards’ under the present Ayatollah Khamenei may be crumbling and their collapse, analysts say, would be as consequential as the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Support is rallying round Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s deposed shah, though more because of a lack of any other focal point for the beleaguered population. He says he has no ambition to rule but will help to enable democratic transition, as King Juan Carlos did when he returned to Spain after Franco’s death.
Key to any ending of the present regime are ‘the men with the guns and the money’ – the IRGC (Iran Revolutionary Guard) who to date have shown no sign of switching sides.
The best chart for Iran is 22 December 1501, Tehran, the start of the Safavid dynasty, whose rule is often considered the beginning of modern Iranian history.
The final degree Iran Sagittarius Sun is catching the undermining tr Neptune square exactly at the moment (tied into the unfortunate Scheat). With tr Saturn following behind in a downbeat square to the Sun next month. Plus tr Uranus will oppose the afflicted Pluto at 28 degrees Scorpio for instability and revolution this March before moving on to square the natal Uranus in April. Change will be in the air.
Though even if there is dramatic change the next few years look tough with the Solar Arc Pluto conjunct the Taurus North Node by 2028 and the SA Saturn opposing the Mars in 2029 and then conjunct the Pluto in the early 2030s. More turbulence, violence and hardship.
When the Islamic Revolution happened in 1979, tr Uranus just into final decan Scorpio was aiming to trigger the Iran 1501 Mars in Taurus opposition Pluto for a high-risk early two/three years with tr Neptune undermining the Solar Arc T square of Mars Pluto Uranus as the tyrannical regime took control.
Ayatollah Khameini’s leadership chart, 4 June 1989, has a changeable tr Uranus conjunct the Mercury in March; with tr Saturn in tense and uncertain squares to the Uranus and then Neptune from late March as well, on and off all year. There is a bullish confidence from Solar Arc Pluto opposition Jupiter and a SA Jupiter conjunct Mars so he won’t go down without a strong push back. 2028/29 look the more unstable on this chart.
The Iran Revolutionary Guard, 5 May 1979, do look to be facing considerable setbacks this year with SA Saturn opposition their Mars now and SA Mars square their Saturn now. They will be facing heavy pressure and in warlike conditions.
Reza Shah, 31 October 1960 11.50 am Teheran, has a Sun Neptune conjunction in Scorpio on his midheaven sextile Pluto on one side and Saturn in Capricorn on the other, which does not inspire much confidence in his ability to get a grip. Plus his Saturn in Capricorn on his Ascendant opposes Mars, hinting at a life where setbacks upset the best laid plans – and it is catching the Solar Arc Sun Neptune conjunct his natal Saturn now and opposition the Mars by 2029 which looks fairly calamitous.
His father the deposed Shah, 26 October 1919 8.15am, was also a Sun Scorpio but a different personality with a hard-edged Saturn Mars conjunct in his 10th sextile a controlling 8th house Pluto in one side and widely sextile the Sun on the other. Although he modernised Iran’s economy and raised Iran’s global and military standing, he also had a barbaric secret police force and many thousands of political prisoners. His exit was mired in accusations of western interference (US/UK) and oil interests.
The post Iran on the brink – will people power win? first appeared on Astroinform with Marjorie Orr – Star4cast.
