Strike and Protest of Merchants Against Repressive Forces; Continuation of Uprising in Various Cities of Iran

On the tenth day of the nationwide uprising in Iran, the scope of protests and strikes expanded to multiple cities, with numerous reports of violent clashes between repressive forces and protesters, merchants, and citizens. On the evening of Tuesday, January 15, the body of Shayan Asadollahi, one of the victims of the protests, was buried under heavy security measures and in a media blackout. His burial ceremony was attended only by his mother and sister, with government forces overseeing the process. The atmosphere around the market streets was tense, and citizens reacted to the presence of security forces by chanting protest slogans against the regime. Continuing protests and reports from various cities indicated an escalation of field repression. In Yazdanshahr, Isfahan province, published images showed signs of widespread clashes in the streets, with witnesses reporting beatings of citizens and direct gunfire from government forces towards protesters. Similar situations were reported from Ahvaz, Ramhormoz, and other cities in Khuzestan province. Simultaneously with the expansion of street protests, a new wave of occupational strikes emerged. On Tuesday, January 16, shopkeepers and merchants in cities such as Tehran, Shahr-e Kord, Shiraz, Karaj, Isfahan, Marvdasht, and Kavar joined the strikes by closing their shops. While Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, had described merchants as 'revolutionary and loyal to the regime,' on Tuesday, January 16, images of merchants' sit-ins and resistance against repressive forces were widely shared on social media. Many users shared images from the Tehran market, stating that merchants were 'standing empty-handed against weapons,' and these images became one of the most viewed posts of the day on the social media platform X. In Tehran, various sections of the Grand Bazaar, Molavi Bazaar, Lalehzar, Yaftabad, and Azhari intersection witnessed widespread closures of business units. Reports indicated that security forces attempted to disperse the strikes and protests in some of these areas by firing tear gas and shooting, but in some cases faced resistance from merchants. Clashes occurred between protesters and security forces in the Grand Bazaar of Tehran and some other commercial centers. Published images show that repressive agents, stationed extensively around the market and attacking the demonstrators, have heavily secured these areas. In Fars province, merchants in Marvdasht and Kavar also declared their solidarity with the nationwide uprising by closing their shops. Similar reports of widespread strikes in Kermanshah have also been published. Alongside popular protests and occupational strikes, reactions from the academic community were also observed. Groups of students from the University of Art in Tehran and Shiraz announced that they consider holding exams under the current conditions as a form of normalizing the situation and will refrain from participating in their exams. In Yasuj, families of detainees gathered in front of government buildings and faced the security forces. Reports indicate the use of batons, tear gas, and the arrest of several demonstrators. There were also reports of tear gas being fired among protesters and even inside gas stations. As protests intensified, Iran's economic fluctuations reached an unprecedented level. Reports indicate that the dollar rate surpassed 147,000 tomans on Tuesday, and the price of gold coins reached about 170 million tomans. This surge occurred while the government spokesperson warned of a potential 30% increase in food prices in the coming days. Media coverage and images from various cities show that the protests encompass all classes. In Isfahan, images of veiled women marching in the Koshk area were published, chanting against the economic and political situation. Following the violent clashes with security forces, earlier images of an attack on Ilam Hospital were released, prompting a reaction from the U.S. State Department, which described the act as 'a blatant crime against humanity.' Reports of tear gas being fired in Sina Hospital in Tehran and the assault on medical staff have also circulated on social media. Following the closure of universities, protest gatherings have spread to student dormitories. Reports from Birjand and Shahroud universities indicate the arrest of several female students. Users on social media, noting the continuation of protests among youth and various segments of society, have spoken of the 'resilience of the popular movement' and the 'erosion of the regime's legitimacy.' The killing of 22-year-old protester Saghar Etemadi marked the seventh day of anti-government protests in Iran. The U.S. State Department stated that 'despite the regime's brutal violence,' the people of Iran are courageously acting to assert their rights. The UN Secretary-General expressed 'concern and sorrow' over the repression of protesters in Iran. The expansion of strikes and protests on the ninth day of the nationwide uprising continues despite government repression.