On Sunday, protests over living conditions in Iran continued with gatherings of retirees in several provinces, denouncing the electoral propaganda of government candidates to replace Ebrahim Raisi and take the title of 'presidency,' alongside strikes by thousands of workers in Khuzestan. Protesters in Kermanshah chanted, 'We saw no justice, we will not vote again.' According to reports received by Voice of America and published on social media on Sunday, July 3, protesting retirees held simultaneous gatherings in at least Tehran, Kermanshah, Khuzestan, and Isfahan, denouncing electoral propaganda they deemed 'lies.' In Tehran, retirees from the Social Security Organization emphasized that 'our rights can only be obtained on the streets.' In Kermanshah, slogans included 'Debate was good, but it was all lies, we saw no justice, we will not vote again,' 'The son of the elite is American, the inflation belongs to us,' 'Forget the hijab, think of us,' 'Down with slavery, long live life,' and 'Imprisoned teacher must be freed.' In Shush, Khuzestan, retirees chanted 'Claiming justice, shame on you.' In Isfahan, steel industry retirees marched and shouted, 'Scream for your rights, steel workers.' Concurrently with the retirees' protests, the Telegram channel 'Civil Market Protest' reported that on Sunday, July 3, over 17,500 workers from 'contractual projects' in 'more than 75 companies' in the oil and gas industries, refineries, power plants, and petrochemicals continued their strike. According to citizen reports, these strikes began days ago with demands for wage increases, the elimination of contractors, and the implementation of a '14 days of work, 14 days of rest' plan. Additionally, a number of educators and education staff gathered on Saturday, July 2, in front of the Ministry of Education in Tehran to protest poor living conditions. Inflation and rising prices in recent years have exacerbated the living conditions for a large part of the Iranian population, and economic experts warn of a worsening situation for people's livelihoods this year. The expansion of protests among various groups, including retirees, workers from different industries, teachers, and healthcare workers, indicates increasing economic difficulties in Iran and the indifference of the Islamic Republic authorities. Jamshid Asadi, an economist, previously told Voice of America that the economic situation and living conditions will worsen beyond what they currently are.
Strike of Oil and Gas Workers; Protesting Retirees: We Saw No Justice, We Will Not Vote Again
Protests and strikes have erupted across Iran, led by retirees and workers demanding better living conditions and denouncing government electoral propaganda. The protests highlight widespread dissatisfaction with economic conditions and the government's failure to address the needs of its citizens. This situation reflects a growing unrest that could have significant implications for the Iranian regime.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Protests and strikes erupted across Iran, with retirees and oil and gas workers demanding better living conditions and denouncing government electoral propaganda.
- Retirees protested in multiple cities against economic conditions and government promises.
- Over 17,500 oil and gas workers are on strike demanding better wages and working conditions.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has been facing severe economic challenges, exacerbated by international sanctions and internal mismanagement, leading to widespread public dissatisfaction.
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