Internal and external factors behind the protests in Iran

The anti-government demonstrations in Iran entered their sixth day on Tuesday, with growing attention focused on whether the government will be able to resolve the crisis and restore social stability at an early date without resorting to a violent response.

On the surface, the biggest social turmoil in Iran since 2009 has been triggered by dissatisfaction with unemployment, economic hardships and price hikes.

While President Hassan Rouhani has acknowledged there are genuine grievances, his challenge is convincing the protesters that he can meaningfully address them since there is no quick fix.