Continued Protests and Popular Resistance on the Eleventh Day of Iran's Nationwide Uprising

Protests and nationwide strikes against the Islamic Republic continued on Wednesday, January 7, despite government repression, as citizens and protesting merchants in dozens of large and small cities across Iran held street gatherings and strikes to pursue this uprising. Reports and published videos indicate that the scope of the protests has expanded both geographically and in terms of participation from various segments of society, encompassing markets, urban neighborhoods, industrial centers, and universities. In Tehran, the capital's market once again became the main center of protests. Merchants in various sections, including the Yadgarabad market, the textile market, the iron market, the Molavi market, and other commercial areas, went on strike by pulling down their shutters, while gatherings formed in and around the market area. In neighborhoods like Shahrak-e Shahr-e No and some industrial areas in southern and western Tehran, groups of protesters also took to the streets. In several of these areas, a large presence of repressive forces has been reported, and attempts to disperse protesters have involved shooting, tear gas, and clashes. Alongside Tehran, a wave of protests and strikes spread to numerous cities. In Rasht, protesters held a large demonstration on January 7, which reportedly started from Rasht's municipality square and covered parts of the market and several main streets of the city. In other cities, including Tabriz, Mashhad, Karaj, Kermanshah, Zanjan, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Nishapur, Gonabad, Lahijan, Bandar Abbas, Shiraz, Fasa, Falavarjan, Assaluyeh, Lordegan, Shahr-e Kord, Bojnourd, Babolsar, Amol, Sabzevar, Qeydar, and Pardanjan, widespread street gatherings and strikes were reported. In many of these cities, merchants played a significant role in continuing the protests by closing their shops, effectively shutting down many local markets. In some areas, including Mashhad, Bandar Abbas, Kermanshah, Bojnourd, and cities in the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, reports indicate direct clashes between protesters and government forces. Published videos show that protesters in various cities managed to resist the pressure from repressive forces and even pushed them back at certain points. In some locations, direct shooting, the use of pellet guns, and tear gas were reported. In several cities, protesters created street barriers and set fire to tires or other objects to prevent the advance of repressive forces. Students also held gatherings at several universities, including in Kermanshah, Zanjan, Qom, and Semnan, expressing their solidarity with the nationwide uprising while protesting the current conditions. Protesters at Wednesday's gatherings chanted anti-government and overthrow slogans, declaring their opposition to the power structure of the Islamic Republic. The widespread nature of these slogans and their repetition in various cities indicate a convergence of demands among protesters across different regions of the country. In response to the ongoing nationwide uprising, Iranian visual arts associations issued a statement declaring that artists and cultural activists stand with the people, and what is being heard in the streets today is the protest cry of a society that, under years of oppression, deprivation, inequality, monopoly, and political, cultural, and economic inefficiency, has no hope for reforming the current situation. The Coordinating Council of Teachers' Trade Unions of Iran also announced that the Teachers' Association of Noorabad Mamassani has declared its support for the nationwide uprising. This association, while joining the protests, called for the immediate release of all detained children and students and emphasized the responsibility of government institutions regarding citizens' rights.