Tehran Police Chief: We Will Continue Our Strong Presence in the Market for As Long As Necessary

While on Wednesday, July 6, conflicting reports emerged about the continuation of protests by merchants in the Tehran market, the commander of Greater Tehran Police stated: "There is a strong presence of police officers throughout the market, and we will continue our presence for as long as necessary." On the same day, the Secretary-General of the Society of Islamic Associations of Guilds mentioned that "almost the majority of the market is open," but numerous videos circulating on social media indicate that protests are ongoing. Some of these videos and images have been sent by audiences to Radio Farda, but Radio Farda cannot confirm their exact time and location. The fluctuations in currency rates, partly due to the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, have created chaos in the Iranian market, leading to widespread protests and strikes in various markets across Iran. Protests that began on Sunday, July 3, in commercial complexes in Tehran escalated to the closure of the Tehran market on Monday and continued on Tuesday, with reports indicating that these protests have spread to markets in several other cities in Iran. On Tuesday, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the Tehran prosecutor, reported the "arrest of a large number" of protesters and warned them. According to ISNA, on Wednesday, Police Chief Hossein Rahimi stated that regarding the strike of some merchants, "the police are present in the market with all their strength and will take action to ensure the security of the market and merchants." He also spoke of the possibility of "merchants being threatened by some individuals to force them to close their shops." Meanwhile, there are claims on social media about shopkeepers being threatened to close their shops by police forces. The possibility of confirming or denying either claim is not currently feasible. Rahimi further stated that "there is a strong presence of police officers throughout the market, and we will continue our presence for as long as necessary." Videos sent on social media also indicate a security atmosphere in the Tehran market and its surroundings, especially in the Baharestan area. Ahmad Karimi Isfahani, the Secretary-General of the Society of Islamic Associations of Guilds, commented on the current state of the Tehran market, stating: "The market situation is returning to normal, and a limited number of commercial units are closed; this may also be due to the closure on Thursday and Friday and some merchants going on trips." On the same day, according to IRNA, Mohammad Hossein Maqimi, the governor of Tehran, stated: "The government has heard and is hearing the demands of merchants, and various meetings have been held with them to review and follow up on requests, but what is clear is that some individuals are trying to take advantage of the current situation in a guided manner, which the merchants themselves do not allow." He did not provide further explanation regarding his claim of the "guidance" of protests, merely attributing it to the work of the "enemy." Protests in the market area and adjacent streets are related to "currency fluctuations," but protests have also spread to some areas in southern Tehran, such as Javadieh and Yaftabad, where political slogans are also being heard. Meanwhile, the previous day, markets in Tabriz, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Arak also witnessed strikes and protests.