Mass protests have been ongoing in the Iranian capital and several major cities since December 28th. The deepening economic difficulties in the country are cited as the main impetus for the protests. According to news agencies, students from major universities joined the protests in Tehran and Isfahan.
In some areas, minor clashes between protesters and police have been recorded. Law enforcement agencies reportedly used tear gas to disperse the crowd. The Dpa agency noted that the demonstrations are becoming increasingly political. On the streets, slogans like "Death to the dictator" and "Long live the Tsar" are ringing out. The first appeal may be directed at Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, while the second signifies the idea of restoring the pre-revolutionary monarchy.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkiyan announced on December 30 that he had instructed the Interior Minister to communicate with representatives of the protesters and listen to their legal demands. He emphasized that the government must act responsibly to stabilize the situation.
According to AFP, the protests first began at a large bazaar in Tehran. First, mobile phone sellers, and then entrepreneurs working in other sectors, protested by closing their stores due to hyperinflation and the devaluation of the national currency. In particular, traders working with imported goods found themselves in a difficult situation.
On December 29, the rial set another anti-record on the open market - one US dollar equals almost 1.4 million rials. Following this, the head of the Central Bank of Iran, Mohammad Reza Farzin, resigned.
At the same time, the Iranian economy is under pressure from Western sanctions related to high inflation, high prices, and the nuclear program. President Pezeshkiyon promised that measures aimed at curbing inflation and improving the living conditions of the population would be taken in the near future.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
Users of Меҳмон are not allowed to comment this publication.
