Strikes and protests by oil and petrochemical workers have been expanding across Iran recently. These workers demand their basic rights, such as a salary in accordance with Iran’s skyrocketing inflation. Instead of addressing their problem, Iranian authorities have fired thousands of workers. According to state-run Etemad Daily, eight petrochemical projects have been struck by numerous seasonal workers who are protesting their dire livelihood circumstances.
Thousands of locals in Zahedan took to the streets after Friday prayers to participate in a major anti-regime demonstration. In Fanuj, people continued their protests against the regime’s security forces, who recently attacked and opened fire on protesters, killing at least seven people.
This crisis endangers the lives of millions of Iranians, yet there is confusion as to who is to blame. Regime officials and apologists blame the crisis on “global arrogance” and “ruthless sanctions.” However, it is crystal clear to Iranians that the ruling theocracy and its mafia are the real perpetrators of the lack of medicine in Iran.
The strike has now expanded to 104 sites across 13 provinces, affecting workers in oil, gas, petrochemicals, steel, copper, and other industrial sectors, who are refusing to work until their demands for higher salaries and rights are met.In Sistan & Baluchestan Province, southeast Iran, oppressive security forces ran over two motorcycles with their vehicle, leaving four locals injured on Tuesday night.
The decision was made to tackle currency market distortions and prevent the smuggling of subsidized drugs out of the country. However, health officials say that they have only received between one-third and one-tenth of what they have asked for to fulfill the country’s medical needs. The preferred currency, which had been allocated to domestic drug production and accounted for 97% of the country’s needs, has now been redirected toward the import of drugs.
Kurdish women’s rights activists in Iran are being subjected to pressure from the Intelligence Department of Sanandaj to make false confessions against themselves. Two activists, journalist Zhina Moddares Gorji and teacher Fariba Zand Karimi, have been detained in solitary confinement and deprived of contact with their families.
The strikes have spread to at least 76 oil, petrochemical, steel, and copper plants and mines in 27 cities across 11 provinces, affecting thousands of workers. In response, protesters have stepped up their attacks on the regime’s interests, with resistance groups including the MEK Resistance Units joining the workers in their struggle.
In his Tuesday remarks to members of the “university Basij,” Khamenei rejected the idea of having a referendum, suggested by the so-called reformist figures within the regime as the only way to save the mullahs’ rule.
This followed protests by the brave people of Zahedan in Sistan & Baluchestan Province of southeast Iran, renewing their demonstrations and calls for the overthrow of the mullahs’ dictatorship. Protests in Iran have expanded to at least 282 cities, with over 750 people killed and more than 30,000 arrested by the regime’s forces, according to sources of Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
