The demonstrations, spanning major cities and rural areas, underscore the public’s mounting frustration with the regime’s inability to address basic needs and systemic negligence.
In Tehran, the heart of the protests, students at Khajeh Nasir Toosi University rallied against the suspicious death of Amir Mehdi Cheghini, a first-year chemistry student. Reports suggest Cheghini suffered a fatal fall from the fourth floor of his dormitory, an incident shrouded in allegations of administrative neglect.
Locked doors delayed emergency responders, fueling outrage among students who accuse the university of gross negligence. “This tragic death reflects deep systemic failures,” said a student leader. Protesters are demanding a class boycott and accountability from university officials, including the head of campus security and the Minister of Science.
November 12—Tehran, Iran
Protest rally by students at Khajeh Nasir Toosi University following the suspicious death of a student at the campus.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/Mi5Cvz6Lz1— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 12, 2024
Further south, in Asaluyeh’s Bidkhun district, residents rallied against the construction of a sewage facility near their homes. Protesters argued the project threatens community health and safety. “This facility will only degrade our health and quality of life,” said one demonstrator, highlighting the community’s fears of increased pollution and compromised living conditions.
Environmental concerns also ignited protests in Najaf Abad, Isfahan Province, where students, farmers, and merchants united to draw attention to severe drought and rising air pollution. “Our farms are drying up, and the air is toxic,” lamented a farmer, illustrating the region’s dire environmental challenges.
November 12—Iran
Contract workers of South Pars Gas Company hold resume rallies to protest wages and poor working conditions and lack of response by authorities.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/40dYO1uHVn— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 12, 2024
In the industrial heartland, labor protests intensified at the South Pars Gas Company in Bushehr Province. Contract workers resumed demonstrations over low wages, hazardous working conditions, and the government’s failure to meet their demands.
South Pars, a cornerstone of Iran’s energy sector, has witnessed months of unrest as workers push for timely wage payments and improved labor standards. These protests reflect a deepening divide between the Iranian populace and the government, with calls for accountability growing louder across the nation.
November 12—Asaluyeh, southern Iran
The people of Bidkhun rally to protest the building of a sewage facility next to their town causing pollution and health hazards for them.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/B5WeCwlmmD— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 12, 2024
As dissatisfaction mounts, experts warn of escalating tensions unless authorities take meaningful steps to address the grievances of students, workers, and communities alike. With no immediate resolution in sight, Iran appears poised for further unrest in the weeks to come.
