Small-scale protests spread across Iranian cities as economic crisis deepens

Small protests by retired teachers, telecommunications workers and job seekers have appeared across Iran as the country’s economic crisis tightens its grip. Demonstrations were reported in Tehran, Ahvaz, Shush, Kermanshah, Dezful and Rasht, while retirees gathered in Isfahan and Sanandaj over the rising cost of living and pension payments.

The retirees are demanding pensions that keep pace with living costs, as required under Article 96 of Iran’s Social Security Law. Many are also calling for Article 111 to be implemented, which requires pension and disability payments to remain at or above the legal minimum wage. Retirees in Kermanshah province separately demanded action on living costs and subsidized medical treatment through supplementary insurance.

The pressure is also visible in healthcare. DW Persian reported that some Iranians, including cancer patients, are delaying or abandoning critical treatment because of rising costs. Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported price increases of up to 120% for some medicines. DW cited increases of as much as 543%. A monthly prescription of four NovoRapid insulin pens reportedly rose from about 280,000 tomans after insurance reimbursement to roughly 1.1 million tomans, according to Iranian physicians cited by DW.

The latest protests were not reported to have faced violent suppression. But footage shared by the Human Rights Activists News Agency and the Karun Human Rights Organization showed security forces opening fire on and beating demonstrators last week outside the Dabal Khazaei Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company and the Lishtar refinery project. The protests come as Iran continues to struggle with blackouts and water problems, according to the report.