Economic strain is weakening Iranians’ trust in their government and causing unrest that will impede Tehran's ability to return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal. Less than a year after taking office, the administration of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is grappling with a growing wave of economically-motivated protests. In recent weeks, sporadic and unusual demonstrations have cropped up in major cities including Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz, as well as across Iran’s southwest Khuzestan province. The rallies were initially triggered by a government decision to adjust food subsidies in early May, but have since morphed into broader calls against economic inequality and government corruption -- galvanized by the recent collapse of a building in the country’s historically under-resourced southwest region left dozens dead....
