Reports obtained by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) suggest there have been dozens of protests by all walks of life in recent days. These protests, which are simultaneous with the uprising in the Sistan and Baluchestan province and the nationwide protest by retirees for the sixth consecutive week, suggest Iran’s society is on the verge of explosion.
Protests in different cities
On Friday, Iran Mall’s contractors held a rally in front of the central building of Ayandeh Bank in Tehran, demanding their overdue claims. Contractors, each with hundreds of workers, have not received their rights from Iran Mall or Alborz Tat company in the past six years.
Preschool teachers in Izeh, southwest Iran, gathered in front of the office of Izeh and Baghmalekon representative in the regime’s parliament on Saturday. These teachers are on the sit-in, demanding their unpaid wages and other rights. Since the office of the regime’s MP was closed, protesters gathered in front of the Izeh governorate.
On Saturday, the owners of the Tehran Electricity Cooperative staged a rally protesting the government documenting the sale of the cooperative’s lands in cooperation with the Hashtgerd Registry Office, the Hashtgerd New City Development Company, and the Savojbolagh Governor’s Office. Protesters also marched in protest of the government’s decision.
On Sunday, a group of Mashhad Mall employees who have not received their salaries and bonuses for four months held a protest in front of Ayandeh Bank in Mashhad.
On Monday, a group of Iranian farmers, peddlers, workers, and retirees gathered to talk about their livelihood and work problems. They spoke of their empty table, and the regime officials only care about themselves. They also protested discrimination.
On Monday, Saveh Pars Tire Factory workers continued their sit-in for the eighth consecutive day and staged a rally in the factory’s compound. One of the workers said: “Our main demand is to solve the problem of the savings fund and have our money returned.”
“In 2017, when the complex was privatized, no more loans were given to employees; We demand that the fund be completely dismantled. We want our savings back plus the five percent share that the employer has already paid for each worker each month,” he added.
On Tuesday, contract teachers held a protest in front of the main building of the regime’s Ministry of Education in Tehran to protest the employment law’s implementation and demand the correctional exam’s abolition. They also demanded their licenses.
Retirees’ protests
On Sunday, for the sixth consecutive week, retirees and social security pensioners held protests in Tehran and 25 other cities across Iran. They protested their terrible living conditions, high prices, and the regime’s officials’ indifference to people’s problems.
Retirees have now joined the low sectors of society due to the clerical regime’s plundering policies. Protesters chanted slogans such as: “Only by taking it to the streets, we could gain our rights,” “The nation has never seen so much injustice,” “Our enemy is right here, they lie that it’s America,” “Yesterday’s hard workers, today’s protesters,” “The retirees demand: Wages on par with the inflation rate.”
Sistan and Baluchestan uprising
Protests in recent days coincided with the uprising of brave locals in the Sistan and Baluchestan province, southeast Iran.
Protests erupted after the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) opened fire on deprived fuel porters in Saravan county, near the Iran-Pakistan border, killing and injuring dozens. Images and videos posted on social media showed the dense presence of IRGC forces and heavy artillery and tanks. In response, angry locals stormed the IRGC bases in several cities in the province.
Protests have spread across the Sistan and Baluchestan province since the incident. The regime cut off internet access to prevent the news of the protests from spreading. According to reports obtained by the MEK, security forces have gunned down dozens of protesters and have arrested many others.
Protests across Iran, their rapid spread, continuation, and intensity suggest society’s explosiveness, foretelling an uprising. This outcome has terrified the regime’s officials and state-run media.
“The wild horse of unrest is going from one city to another, leaving many injuries and dangers in the system,” wrote the state-run Etemad daily on Saturday in this regard.
