Iran's Judiciary Chief Threatens Striking Truck Drivers with 'Severe Punishment'

Following threats from various judicial officials in Iran against striking truck drivers, the head of the judiciary also warned that 'those disrupting road security will face severe punishment.' On Monday, October 1, Sadegh Larijani claimed, 'The enemy may hire individuals to divert some protests.' He added, 'Accordingly, prosecutors and judicial authorities across the country have stepped in, and those who exploit the demands of truck drivers to disrupt road security and damage personal vehicles will face severe punishment.' Hossein Ashtari, the commander of Iran's police force, also commented on Monday regarding 'the actions of some disruptors of order and security in preventing the movement of trucks carrying cargo and fuel,' stating they are a clear example of 'highway robbers' and that 'heavy sentences' will be issued against them. Following a new wave of strikes by truck drivers that began 10 days ago, nearly 130 truck drivers and individuals who, according to judicial officials, promoted the strike on social media, have been arrested. In this context, 11 individuals were arrested in Semnan Province, 9 in North Khorasan Province, 14 in Qom Province, 7 in Zarand, and 2 in Kangan this week. Prior to the statements from the judiciary chief and police commander, Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje'i, the first deputy of the judiciary, had also threatened that 'severe punishment awaits disruptors' in transportation. Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the Attorney General, also threatened those who incite truck drivers to strike and, according to him, 'threaten' and 'create fear and terror' to prevent the movement of trucks, stating that if they do so, they will face charges of 'highway robbery.' He emphasized that this charge carries 'heavy punishment' and that the accused could even face execution. Article 185 of the Islamic Penal Code states: 'A robber and highway robber who disrupts the security of people or the road with a weapon and creates fear and terror is considered a mohareb (enemy of God).' In this context, the punishment for moharebeh and corruption on earth in the Islamic Penal Code includes killing, hanging, cutting off the right hand and then the left foot, and exile, with the choice of any of these punishments left to the judge; whether the mohareb has killed or injured someone or taken their property or has not done any of these acts. Claims of 'assault' and 'attack' on trucks have been made regarding some of the arrested truck drivers, while previously, officials of the Islamic Republic accused protesters in similar protests of 'damaging public or private property.' Meanwhile, reports have emerged regarding promises from officials to meet the demands of truck drivers or actions in this regard. The ISNA news agency reported that a few days after the truck drivers' protests began, the average freight rates increased by 20%, and the Road Maintenance Organization announced that the insurance conditions for drivers would be eased, and negotiations with the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade would take place to reduce the prices of necessary spare parts. Additionally, the Fars news agency noted the issue of providing tires for truck drivers, stating that purchasing a pair of domestic tires costs eight million tomans and foreign tires cost thirteen million tomans, adding that the government reduced the import tariff on the tires they need from 26% to 5% starting from October 2.