As a result of rising prices, high inflation, and the depreciating Iranian currency (the rial), there have been widespread protests across Iran. The latest reports show there have been at least six fatalities, and these include both protestors and police officers. It is the first instance of fatalities in connection to these protests, which could mean a more severe response by the Iranian regime in future protests. Although protests have subsided in Tehran, protests throughout Iran have gained momentum in smaller towns and rural regions. The Lur people make up a majority of the population in many of these regions, and they have been particularly impacted by the shared economic crisis faced by all segments of Iranian society.
Violence Reported in Several Cities
Reports of violence have surrounded many of the protests that have continued into today. The most significant level of unrest has been reported in Azna, located in Lorestan province. A video circulating on social media showed evidence (fire) in the streets, and the sounds of gunfire can be heard in the same videos along with crowds chanting slogans directed at officials. The semi-official news agency, ILNA, has reported three deaths during the protests that took place in Azna; however, reports from the state-run media provide limited information.
In Lordegan, another town experiencing violent protests, videos circulating on social media show people congregating in the street while the sound of gunfire is audible in the background. Reports from various human rights organisations have reported that two persons have died during clashes with security officers. Photos taken in Lordegan show police officers wearing body armour.
Death of a Paramilitary Individual
In Kouhdasht, a protest caused the assassination of a 21-year-old member of Iran’s Basij paramilitary group. State-run media sources contend that from the riotous crowds came the murder; even multiple law enforcement officials, as well as Basij members, sustained injuries during the protest. Local authorities indicated that about 20 individuals had been arrested during the demonstrations and declared, “Order in the area has been restored.” Authorities claimed that the major instigators behind the protests were economic conditions, while also noting that many of the people protesting were influenced by events outside of Iran.
Competitive Pressure on the Economy
Economic pressure continues to create a tremendous amount of uncertainty in developing countries like Iran. Since the way that the economy is structured, the base currency of Iran (or riyal) has lost a tremendous amount of value. Currently, the exchange rate of $1 is about 1.4 million riyals. In addition, as a result of inflation and rising unemployment, many working-and-poor individuals in Iran have difficulty meeting daily needs.
President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed that economic issues are, in fact, the principal motivation for the protests. He indicated that the Iranian government must address citizens’ concerns but that the Iranian government has limited resources available to remedy the situation due to the effects of sanctions and a lack of available funding.
Iran has entered a period of growing uncertainty.
While protests are not taking place across all of Iran as they were in 2022, these demonstrations in Kouhdasht mark the largest protests to occur in Iran since that time. Consequently, as economic pressures continue to increase in Iran and citizens have not seen any decrease in tensions in the past year, the general level of anxiety among citizens is increasing considerably with respect to their future. For in-depth analysis and the latest updates on global political and economic developments, visit
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