Widespread Protests Challenge Iranian Regime Amid Economic and Environmental Grievances

By
Staff Writer
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In Iran, a nation troubled by internal strife and economic woes, the voice of protest resonates strongly against the regime's oppressive policies.
In Iran, a nation troubled by internal strife and economic woes, the voice of protest resonates strongly against the regime's oppressive policies.

 

Despite Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s efforts to quell dissent with aggressive regional posturing, the cries of the populace grow louder, echoing through the streets with undiminished fervor.

As December unfolds, the unrest shows no signs of abating. In Ahvaz, the workers of the National Steel Industrial Group persist in their strike, marking the fifth consecutive day of industrial action. Their march from the company’s gates to Baghaei Square embodies their defiance against the regime’s threats. Their chants – “Threats and prison no longer have any effect,” and “Death to the oppressors, hail to the workers” – are a bold testament to their resilience.

The gold traders’ guild, similarly aggrieved, continues its strike for the fifth day, railing against coercion and unjust taxation. Meanwhile, in Ardakan, a town beleaguered by environmental concerns, citizens protest for the third day against air pollution and the unchecked growth of polluting industries. In a poignant display, parents garbed their children in shrouds, symbolizing the dire stakes of their struggle against the regime’s environmental neglect.

 

 

 

Retirees, too, are making their discontent known. On December 25, retirees from the Telecommunications Company of Iran gathered in multiple cities, including Shiraz, Sanandaj, Shahrekord, and others, to protest against the indifference shown to their demands. This wave of discontent has also swept through the nursing community, with professionals in Tehran, Ahvaz, and Qazvin joining the retirees in their demonstrations.

The burgeoning opposition to the regime’s fiscal policies and the exploitation of workers and retirees has alarmed some government officials and affiliated media outlets. Mohsen Hashemi Rafsanjani, a prominent Iranian politician, starkly warned of an “uprising of the hungry,” citing the grim reality of economic hardship faced by half of the Iranian society. Yousef Davoudi, a member of the Majlis (Parliament), echoed these concerns, predicting a further decline in the national currency and exacerbation of social crises under the current budget.

The Raisi government’s budgetary priorities, particularly the lavish expenditure on presidential trips, have drawn severe criticism. Each provincial visit by President Raisi reportedly incurs billions of rials, with a substantial security detail maintained to keep the public at bay. Rahmatollah Norouzi, a member of Majlis, highlighted the excessive nature of these expenses, emphasizing the government’s skewed financial priorities.

 

 

On December 26, amid the escalating steel workers’ strike and widespread societal grievances, Iranian opposition President-elect Maryam Rajavi of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), voiced her support for the protesters. She underscored the relentless protests of workers, retirees, nurses, and merchants as clear indicators of the Iranian people’s unyielding opposition to the mullahs’ regime.

Rajavi’s statement, “As Isfahan’s steel workers cry out, ‘We fight against oppression and injustice,’ these protests coupled with the activities of the Resistance Units will sweep away Khamenei’s bloodthirsty regime,” encapsulates the spirit of resistance that continues to challenge the Iranian regime’s authority.

 

 

 

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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