Iranian cities were engulfed in turmoil on Thursday as confrontations between demonstrators and security forces escalated into violence.
According to Western Journal, unverified reports suggested that Iranian officials opened fire on protesters in Lordegan, while in Kuhdasht, one security force member was killed and 13 others were injured, as reported by Reuters.
The unrest, which originated in Tehran on Sunday, has rapidly spread nationwide, driven by economic grievances, as noted by the BBC. These demonstrations represent the most significant upheaval in Iran since 2022. In response, the government shuttered businesses, universities, and government offices across 21 of Iran's 31 provinces, following rampant inflation that led to a change in leadership at the central bank, according to The New York Times.
The protests have been fueled by water shortages and other societal issues, prompting diverse segments of the population to take to the streets. During one protest in Hamedan, demonstrators chanted, "Death to the dictator." Some government officials have attempted to attribute the unrest to foreign influences, claiming that "Zionist media outlets and figures" aim to "divert the peoples demands and turn the protests into chaos and riots."
Irans prosecutor general, Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, acknowledged that "peaceful livelihood protests" arise from "social and understandable realities." However, he warned that any actions undermining security or public property, or following "externally designed scenarios," would be met with "a legal, proportionate and decisive response."
Omid Memarian, a senior Iran analyst at Dawn, a Washington-based nonprofit, remarked that the protests are a manifestation of long-standing discontent. "The recent protests were not the result of a sudden incident, but the accumulation of sustained pressure over time something the authorities clearly anticipated," he stated. He further noted that the government's decision to enforce widespread shutdowns is an effort to alleviate social tensions.
Nevertheless, he emphasized, "But with no real solutions to the worsening economic crisis, and no credible path out of it, such measures cannot contain public anger. The frustration runs far deeper than temporary restrictions can address."
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