Continued Protests by Retirees in Iran; Oil Workers in Khark and Steelworkers in Ahvaz Gather

Weekly protests by retirees of the telecommunications sector continued this Tuesday in at least 11 cities across Iran. Simultaneously, official employees of the Ministry of Oil at the Khark oil terminal and workers from the National Steel Group in Ahvaz continued their protests. Other sectoral gatherings also took place, including protests by contract teachers in Rafsanjan. According to the Iranian Retirees Council, protests by retirees and pensioners of the telecommunications company occurred on Tuesday, November 13, in cities including Shiraz, Isfahan, Zahedan, Tabriz, Ardabil, Arak, Urmia, Tehran, Kermanshah, Kerman, and Ahvaz. Telecommunications retirees are protesting the failure to meet their demands, including the full implementation of the personnel and employment regulations from 2010 and resolving issues related to health insurance. These protests occur every Tuesday, known as 'Protest Tuesdays.' During these gatherings, slogans such as 'We saw no justice, only heard lies,' 'I won't sit down until I get my rights,' 'Retiree shout, yell for your rights,' 'Hosseini, Hosseini, their slogan is lies and theft,' and 'No compromise, no surrender, implement the regulations' were chanted. The protest in Tehran was held quietly, with the presence of government suppression forces. Simultaneously, reports indicate a significant presence of workers from the National Steel Group of Khuzestan in a sectoral gathering, who have joined a several-hour strike for the third consecutive day. The Iranian Retirees Council also reported that official employees of the Ministry of Oil at the Khark oil terminal gathered 'in protest against recent assaults on their livelihood,' under the title 'Application of the Civil Service Management Law to the conditions of oil workers.' Delayed income from months of expenses has led to protests and gatherings by retirees. Some experts and economists say that economic statistics published by officials of the Islamic Republic are 'selective' and do not indicate any improvement in people's livelihoods. For instance, economist Ali Ghanbari stated that 'the Central Bank is waiting to see which month the statistics are positive before announcing them,' and despite officials claiming a decrease in the monetary base and liquidity, 'people do not feel any effect of this reduction in their households.' Economist Jamshid Asadi previously told Voice of America that the depreciation of the rial against foreign currencies stems from the decline of the Iranian economy under the clerical regime, with factors such as war and sanctions exacerbating the situation. According to this economist, Iran's failure to join the FATF has worsened the economic conditions significantly; the Iranian economy under the clerical regime suffers from a 'cancerous disease,' and events such as the possibility of war will make it worse.