Police Confront Protesters; Governor of Mashhad: Several Arrested

As videos attributed to the police's confrontation with protesters in Mashhad circulated on Telegram channels, the governor of the city reported the arrest of "a number of those who intended to attack public property and destroy it." Previously, reports from Mashhad, Nishapur, and Kashmar indicated that protests were held on Thursday, December 28, under the title "No to Price Hikes." During the Mashhad protest, slogans were also chanted against Hassan Rouhani, calling him a "dictator," and criticizing Iran's support for Syria, Palestine, and Gaza. These protests occurred amid rising criticism of Rouhani by opponents and critics due to the increasing prices of goods and consumer products. Nevertheless, he and his government officials defended their economic performance, citing a reduction in inflation rates. According to some Telegram channels that published footage of these protests, the Mashhad gathering was organized following calls from Telegram groups in the city; however, the independent verification of how these protests were planned remains uncertain. In an interview with ISNA, Mashhad's governor, Mohammad Rahim Norouziyan, described the "No to Price Hikes" protest as illegal, stating, "Nevertheless, the police dealt with the protesters very patiently." He noted that no permit had been issued for the gathering in Mashhad and added, "A number of individuals gathered at Shohada Square. However, the police gave them the necessary warnings and handled them very patiently." Norouziyan mentioned that after the warnings, the protesters "stayed in Shohada Square for a while and then dispersed." He indicated that "a number" of those who allegedly "intended to attack public property and destroy it were arrested by police officers," but he did not specify the number of detainees. The governor announced that "the gathering was controlled and nothing special happened," stating that the protest had ended. Based on some videos circulated on social media, tear gas was fired at the protesters, and a water cannon was also used to disperse them. Previously, according to videos published by some Telegram channels, including the "Dolat Bahar" channel close to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, hundreds of participants gathered in front of the Mashhad municipality building in Shohada Square, chanting slogans such as "Death to the Dictator" and "Death to Rouhani." Other slogans included "You have made Islam a step, you have made people miserable," "Rest in peace, Reza Shah," "What a mistake I made by revolting," "Police, go catch the thief," "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, my life is for Iran," and "Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, we are all together." Protesters in Nishapur, who also marched, chanted slogans against inflation and unemployment, saying, "O Iranian youth, rise up, rise up," and "The thief plunders, the government supports him." According to a video from the Dolat Bahar Telegram channel, a group marched in Kashmar against price hikes. The protest known as "No to Price Hikes" took place while the Mashhad governorate had announced on Wednesday, December 27, that "no organization, group, or entity had requested permission for a gathering in response to the rising prices of certain goods," and that "no permit had been issued in this regard." The public relations office of the deputy governor and the Mashhad governorate stated that "to prevent potential misuse by malicious elements," it was informing that "any potential action in this regard is illegal." Meanwhile, according to the state news agency IRNA, the Education Department of Khorasan Razavi announced on Wednesday that due to increased air pollution in the metropolis of Mashhad, schools in the seven districts of Mashhad and Tabadkan would be closed on Thursday.