According to Rouzbeh Parsi, program director of the Middle East and North Africa program at the Foreign Policy Institute, the protests are a further development of already existing problems.

That women are treated badly by the Iranian "morality police" is nothing new.

26 people have so far died in the protests.

According to Parsi, the development of the demonstrations partly depends on how quickly, and hard, they will be pushed back by the country's government.

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If the police resort to more violence than they have already done, it can either lead to reactions where more people come out because they get angry, or they get scared and then the demonstrations will die out.

But that does not mean that the basic problem has disappeared or that people's frustration and anger have diminished, he says.

Demand for change nothing new

Parts of the Iranian population, especially women, have long wanted to see a change in the morality laws.

According to Rouzbeh Parsi, they have previously placed their hopes on more reformist presidents.

The problem today, however, is that many feel that they cannot influence the state, except by participating in demonstrations - which are becoming more and more violent.

- It is a very big danger.

You end up on a collision course where both sides will eventually see violence as a solution.

Changing the law a political losing business

Changing the moral laws is a distant compromise, says Rouzbeh Parsi.

He believes that Iranian authorities fear that people would demand more concessions in the event of a law change.

At the same time, he also sees no signs that the laws will be tightened.

- They already realize that it is a political losing business.

Their confrontation is probably not about getting tougher, but rather about relaxing the practice a bit for a while and at the same time showing that it is they who decide by reclaiming the streets.

Will investigate the death

Iran's president Ebrahim Raisi has tasked the interior minister to investigate the cause behind the 22-year-old woman's death.

One problem, however, is that the Iranian judiciary is politicized and non-transparent, says Rouzbeh Parsi.:

- What everyone will strongly doubt is that the investigation will hold the right person accountable.

There isn't a hugely impressive history when it comes to demanding responsibility.

Hear more from Rouzbeh Parsi in the clip above.