Additional Coverage:
Deadly Protests Rock Iran Amid Economic Turmoil
TEHRAN, Iran – At least one person is dead, and possibly more, as widespread protests against rampant inflation and a collapsing currency continue to grip Iran. The unrest, now in its fifth day, has spread from major cities to smaller towns, fueled by deep-seated public dissatisfaction.
Initially, the demonstrations saw participation primarily from merchants and university students. However, the movement has rapidly expanded, indicating a broader public outcry over the nation’s deteriorating economic conditions.
Official reports from the semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing prosecutor Kazem Nazari, state that 13 officers were injured and one member of the Basij militia, a force allied with Iran’s security apparatus, succumbed to “severe injuries.”
However, a conflicting account from the Kurdish rights organization Hengaw Organization for Human Rights identifies the deceased as Amir Hossam Khodayarifard, a 22-year-old from Kohdasht, Iran, asserting he was a civilian shot by government police forces, not a Basij member. The identity and circumstances of his death remain unconfirmed.
Hengaw released a statement indicating that “protests and strikes in Iran began on [Dec. 28], at the same time as the dollar price crossed one million and 450 thousand rials and the price of foreign currencies reached an unprecedented and continuous record and the value of the currency decreased, and have been violently suppressed by government forces.”
Adding to the chaotic atmosphere, the country experienced a nationwide shutdown on Wednesday, which the government attributed to cold weather conditions.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during a visit to Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces on Thursday, acknowledged the government’s responsibility in addressing public grievances. “If people are dissatisfied; we are to blame,” he stated, as reported by the state-run IRNA news agency.
“Do not look for America or anyone else to blame. We must serve properly so that people are satisfied with us.”
Pezeshkian further emphasized the gravity of the situation, saying, “According to God’s Koran, if we do not solve people’s problems, we will have a place in hell.”
Despite these remarks, Prosecutor General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad has issued a stern warning, declaring that any attempts to incite instability would be met with a “decisive response.”
Amidst the protests, diverse calls for change have emerged, with some demonstrators advocating for the end of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s rule, while others express a desire for a return to monarchy.
Verified videos obtained by BBC Persian confirm the presence of protests in various locations on Thursday, including the city of Lordegan, the capital Tehran, and Marvdasht in the Fars province.
The Fars news agency reported two fatalities in Lordegan but did not identify the victims. Hengaw, however, has identified the two killed as protesters Ahmad Jalil and Sajjad Valamanesh, although these deaths have yet to be independently verified by the BBC.