Iran’s state media have denied reports circulated by Western outlets claiming that “protesters have taken control of Malekshahi district in the west of the country.” Official statements say that after several hours of heightened tensions, the situation in Malekshahi has fully stabilized. This was reported by kursiv.uz. reports .
Earlier, Fox News reported that Malekshahi, as well as the city of Abdanan in Ilam Province, had fallen into protesters’ hands. Iranian news agencies, however, say that during the unrest radical groups staged various provocations, vandalized banks, destroyed documents and equipment, and also opened fire on law enforcement officers.
Mass protests in Iran began in late December amid a sharp depreciation of the national currency. Public anger was driven by steep fluctuations in the rial exchange rate and rising prices. After that, Central Bank chief Mohammad Farzin resigned, and on December 31 Abdolnaser Hemmati was appointed to replace him by presidential decree.
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