Explained: Why Iran has been hit by a wave of protests across cities
The protests erupted on Sunday after shopkeepers in Tehran went on strike after Iranian rial hit a record low against the US dollar. As protests intensified, demonstrations were further witnessed in other cities.
Tehran: Since last few days, several cities in Iran have erupted in fresh protests across the country. This is the biggest protests in the country in three years. The protests have increased with people increasingly remain unhappy with the government due to decreasing economy in the country.
Recently, the Iranian currency fell to historic low against dollar leading to anger among people. Even shops were closed for few hours due to public anger. This even as prices of commodities used in daily life were already soaring in Iran.
Fresh protests erupt on Sunday
The protests erupted on Sunday after shopkeepers in Tehran went on strike after Iranian Rial hit a record low against the US dollar. As protests intensified, demonstrations were further witnessed in other cities like Hamedan, Karaj, Malard, Qeshm, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Shiraz, and Yazd. The police was alos seen using tear gas in efforts to disperse crowds.
What led to fresh protests?
The latest protests were triggered by the blow to economy in Iran because of sanctions by western currency due to Iran’s alleged nuclear arsenal. With people taking to streets, several videos have gone online on social media showing protesters clashing with police and security officials. A number of protesters have also been taken in custody in the country.
President Masoud Pezeshkian assures protesters
Assuring the people of his country, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday had shared his countrymen’s concern. Calling the demand of protesters legitimate, he said that the livelihood of the people was his ‘daily concern’. Mohammad Reza Farzin, the chief of Iran’s central bank also reportedly resigned amid crisis.
Pezeshkian also tried to assure his countrymen and said that he already asked the country’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni to hear the demands of protesters and hold a dialogue with their representatives, so that issues are resolved at the earliest.
"The livelihood of the people is my daily concern. We have fundamental actions on the agenda to reform the monetary and banking system and preserve the purchasing power of the people. I have tasked the Minister of the Interior to hear the legitimate demands of the protesters through dialogue with their representatives, so that the government can act with all its might to resolve problems and respond responsibly,” he wrote on X.