Fifth Day of Public Protests; Direct Shooting at Protesters

On the fifth day of the popular uprising in Iran, this new wave of nationwide protests escalated violently with security forces shooting directly at protesters in locations such as Marvdasht, Lordegan, and the central fruit and vegetable market in Tehran. These protests, which began due to unprecedented economic deterioration, the continuous decline of the rial's value, and the skyrocketing prices of the dollar and gold, have targeted the entirety of the regime from the outset. This wave of protests, which started on Sunday, January 7, has now entered its fifth consecutive day as of Thursday, January 11, expanding to multiple cities and various social groups, from merchants and workers to students and ordinary citizens. From the early hours of Thursday, numerous reports and images of ongoing gatherings and security clashes across the country emerged. In Tehran, merchants and workers at the central fruit and vegetable market in District 19 expressed their dissatisfaction with their living conditions by closing their shops and marching in protest. Security forces, with a heavy presence in the area, used tear gas to disperse the crowd and fired on the protesters. Videos released show a highly secured and tense atmosphere in the square, with protesters chanting anti-government slogans against the security forces. Simultaneously, in Marvdasht, security agents opened fire on the demonstrators. Published images indicate that security forces attempted to control the street protests through shooting and the use of riot gear. In Lordegan, located in the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, a critical situation was reported; there, in addition to gunfire, tear gas was used, and protesters were dispersed amid smoke and gunfire. Reports of severe clashes and potential casualties have emerged, although these reports have not been officially confirmed. The protests were not limited to these cities. In Noorabad Lorestan, Dezful, Fooladshahr Isfahan, and several other cities, citizens expressed their anger at the current conditions through street gatherings, lighting fires, and chanting slogans against the regime. In Mashhad, protesters gathered in various locations, including Saadi Metro, and these gatherings turned violent with the intervention of security forces. Students also played a significant role in this wave of protests. In Tehran, reports emerged of several students being arrested in front of the Student Affairs Office of Shahid Beheshti University; images show plainclothes individuals arresting a young student, provoking protests from other students. Following this incident, student protests emerged with anti-government slogans, and according to some reports, the arrested individual was released a few hours later. In Mashhad, students from Ferdowsi and Khayam universities held protests to express their dissatisfaction with the political and economic situation in the country. Alongside street clashes, the wave of arrests continued. In Kuhdasht Lorestan, a judicial official reported the arrest of at least 20 protesters. Additionally, in the Farsan county, it was reported that at least 20 individuals were arrested, most of whom were under 18 years old. In Tehran, in addition to the fruit and vegetable market, widespread deployment of security vehicles and a highly secured atmosphere were reported in areas such as Sadeghiyeh Square.