Massive protests and strikes by workers in Iran’s vital oil and gas sectors, alongside rallies by retirees, health workers, and impoverished citizens, swept across the country in the past week, challenging the regime’s corruption and mismanagement.
On Tuesday, December 9, the energy hub of Asaluyeh witnessed a massive uprising by thousands of hardworking laborers. After eighteen consecutive weeks of protest rallies, the workers finally marched in a large demonstration that shook the regime’s officials. Despite the repressive police forces blocking roads leading to the gathering site from the early hours of the morning to prevent the assembly, the determination of the fed-up workers forced the security forces to retreat.
The protesters chanted slogans targeting the regime’s exploitation, including “Enough with promises, our tables are empty,” “The contractor must go,” and “The fruit of our labor is lost, where is our share?”
The unrest in the energy sector continued the following day. On Wednesday, December 10, more than a thousand workers from oil and gas companies, along with contract staff from the electricity organization and banks from across the country, gathered in front of the regime’s parliament in Tehran. They demanded the implementation of job classification laws and production bonuses, chanting, “Enough with oppression, our tables are empty.”
Meanwhile, in Isfahan, municipal cleaners in District 5 went on strike and refused to collect garbage to protest unpaid wages. In Khuzestan, workers at Shadegan Steel halted operations for the third consecutive day on Tuesday to protest the lack of job classification.
Retirees target regime corruption
Retirees across Iran continued their protests against the plundering of pension funds by state-affiliated mafia institutions. On Sunday, December 7, steel and mining retirees in Isfahan held a massive march. Rejecting the regime’s propaganda blaming foreign sanctions for the economic collapse, they chanted, “Our enemy is right here, they lie and say it’s America.”
Simultaneously, retirees in Shush took to the streets, shouting, “Our rights will only be achieved on the streets” and “Neither the parliament nor the government cares about the nation.”
On Monday, December 8, telecommunications retirees in Tehran staged a widespread march. They specifically targeted the institutions under the control of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, protesting the looting of telecommunication resources by the “Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order” (EIKO) and the IRGC Cooperative Foundation.
Crumbling social services and healthcare crisis
The regime’s negligence has pushed the country’s social welfare staff to the brink. On December 10, employees of the Welfare Organization from various provinces gathered in front of the parliament in Tehran. They stated that despite holding master’s degrees and having 15 years of experience, they receive only 170 million rials (approximately $250) per month, leaving those responsible for helping the vulnerable trapped in a livelihood crisis themselves. Similar protests by welfare staff took place in Shiraz.
Furthermore, a tragic medicine crisis is unfolding. On Monday, December 7, families of Cystinosis patients gathered outside the Ministry of Health in Tehran, crying out for medicine. The price of vital medication for these patients has skyrocketed from 2 million rials last year to over 400 million rials, making it inaccessible for ordinary families.
Political unrest in Yasuj
In a direct display of anti-regime sentiment, the city of Yasuj witnessed widespread protests on Thursday, December 4, coinciding with a visit by the regime’s president. Led by the brave women of the city, residents rallied to express their anger at the government’s “water mafia,” which they hold responsible for the destruction of the region’s environment.