Iranian Regime Shuts Down Gold Shops Amidst Protests

By
Staff Writer
-
In a bid to suppress dissent, the Iranian regime has taken drastic measures by closing down gold shops in Mashhad, a major city in northeast Iran.
In a bid to suppress dissent, the Iranian regime has taken drastic measures by closing down gold shops in Mashhad, a major city in northeast Iran.

In a bid to suppress dissent, the Iranian regime has taken drastic measures by closing down gold shops in Mashhad, a major city in northeast Iran.

 

Reports indicate that the closure comes in response to a strike staged by gold sellers protesting against the government’s taxation policies.

According to state-run media, the gold market in Mashhad has been effectively shut down due to the ongoing strike, with some shops facing official closure by the authorities of Khorasan Razavi province.

Youssef Taqizadegan, head of the Gold and Jewelry Union of Mashhad, revealed that tensions escalated after gold sellers were instructed to register their gold inventory in the so-called national trade system. This directive led to widespread protests, prompting many gold sellers to close their shops in solidarity.

 

 

The strike, which shows no signs of abating, has been fueled not only by tax concerns but also by objections to the national trade system. Representing the Gold and Coin Union, Nader Bazrafshan told the state-run Sharq newspaper that gold sellers are resistant to the idea of registering their longstanding capital and inventory in the comprehensive trade system.

With half a million individuals employed in Iran’s gold industry and 70,000 active guild members, the repercussions of the ongoing strike are significant. This is not an isolated incident. Similar strikes have occurred in various Iranian cities, including Urmia, Isfahan, Qom, Tehran, Bandar Abbas, and Tabriz, underscoring widespread discontent among gold sellers.

The government’s taxation policies, spearheaded by Ebrahim Raisi’s administration and supported by the regime’s parliament, have been a major point of contention. News of a proposed 25% tax on gold and jewelry sales, although initially denied, has further fueled the unrest among gold sellers.

 

 

 

In December 2023, after a week-long strike, Ehsan Khandouzi, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, conceded to the demands of gold sellers and announced a retreat from registering their information in the comprehensive trade system. However, the recent sealing of gold shops in Mashhad serves as a stark reminder of the regime’s duplicity and its tendency to resort to suppression as its primary tool for dealing with dissent.

 

 

 

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu

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