TEHRAN—The Iranian regime trembled this week as thousands of defiant Iranians threatened the government’s power by refusing to buy the nation’s only available snack: state-approved raisins. Once considered a harmless ingredient in pilaf, the wrinkly fruit has quickly become the battleground for revolution.

“If we can’t eat chocolate, at least we won’t eat raisins,” declared 19-year-old computer science student Mehnaz Ghasemi, holding a homemade sign reading “Woman, Life, Snacks.” Since being denied the chance to protest three years ago, Mehnaz has nervously awaited the moment to unite with her fellow citizens at Tehran’s Raisin Emporium, which authorities had optimistically renamed the “Freedom and Dried Fruit Market” on Sunday morning.

The economic collapse has left many Iranians, especially the youth, with nothing but hope and potassium deficiency. “Before, we wanted democracy,” said self-proclaimed activist and part-time Uber donkey driver Reza Davar, 27. “Now we just want bread, or at least something other than raisins and government air.”

Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei downplayed concerns, stating, “This is not an uprising. It is merely a seasonal dislike for dried fruit. In autumn, they will return to us.”

As unrest spreads, local protestor Laleh Foroughi, 34, admitted, “I used to dream of a better future. Now I dream of a snack aisle with more than one option. Maybe even some trail mix, if God wills it.”

Security forces responded decisively, deploying anti-protest pistachios and warning that any attempt to eat unauthorized snacks would be treated as an act of treason.