Iran Leader Compares 'Occupy Wall Street' to Arab Spring

By Ivana Kvesic, Christian Post Reporter Monday, October 10, 2011

An Iranian General, Masoud Jazayeri, has likened the Occupy Wall Street protests to the Arab Spring movement that began in December 2010 and gained traction this spring.

Jazayeri, a member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, was quoted by the Iranian news agency IRNA as saying, “A revolution and comprehensive movement against corruption in the U.S. is in the making. The last phase will be the collapse of the Western capitalist system.”

Jazayeri also said that the lack of U.S. government resolve in halting the economic crisis will turn the Occupy Wall Street movement into a “political and social movement protesting the very structure of the U.S. government.”

The “Occupy Wall Street” movement began last month in New York’s Lower Manhattan district.

The movement does not have a specific leader, but supporters are protesting against corporate greed and inequality in America.

Many supporters say they are protesting for 99 percent of Americans – arguing that the top 1 percent of individuals in the nation should not be controlling such a large proportion of the country's wealth.

People can be seen in New York’s Zuccotti Park dressed as “corporate zombies” or sporting signs that read things such as, “This child can’t afford health care” or “The American dream is the American plight.”

The movement has gained momentum across the country and has been joined by union workers, teachers, students and qualified but unemployed individuals, some of who have several degrees.

The movement has spread to more than 25 cities and even crossed the Atlantic Ocean – protesters can now be found in Dublin, Ireland. The Irish version of the movement is called “Occupy Dame Street” and is likely to spread to cities throughout Europe that are riddled with frustrated unemployed citizens.