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Iran: Retirees hold three days of protests against regime policies

By Mahmoud Hakamian
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Protest rallies by retirees in several cities across Iran—September 5, 2023

Retirees and pensioners of different sectors in Iran held protest rallies in dozens of cities from Sunday to Tuesday to protest the deteriorating conditions of their lives and the regime’s destructive policies. These protests have been continuing as the regime continues to disregard the plight of the retirees.

On Sunday, the retirees of the Social Security Organization held their weekly rallies in several cities, demanding higher pensions and other basic needs.

In Kermanshah, the protesters were chanting, “The ‘loyal’ government has caused the price hike!” referring to the government of Ebrahim Raisi, whose president and cabinet members have been handpicked for their loyalty to regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Raisi and his entourage have been appointed to counter dissidents and protesters, pouring billions of dollars into security forces and surveillance technology. Meanwhile, inflation and the price of basic goods continue to skyrocket.

In the past few years, retirees across Iran have been protesting their deteriorating living conditions, especially as the government refuses to adjust their pensions based on the inflation rate and fluctuations in the price of the rial, Iran’s national currency. The price of most basic goods have increased several fold while pensioners continue to receive the same stipends as before.

In Shushtar, the retirees of the Social Security Organization were chanting, “Retirees, unite, unite!” knowing that the regime will not easily give in to their demands.

Protests were also reported in Ahvaz and Shush, where protesters were chanting, “From Khuzestan to Gilan, shame on these managers!” referring to the regime authorities who are managing the Social Security Organization and retirement fund.

At the same time, the retirees of the steel industry held protest rallies in Tehran and Isfahan. Like other sectors, the retirees of the steel industry are demanding their pensions to be adjusted according to inflation and cost of living, a rule that has been included in the regime’s laws but has been ignored by regime authorities.

On Monday, the retirees of the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) resumed their weekly protests in several cities.

The protesters are demanding the implementation of a law that was passed 13 years ago and requires TCI authorities to adjust their pensions in accordance with inflation rates and the costs of living. But while their lives continue to spiral into poverty, the regime continues to refrain from implementing the law.

At the same time, the Majlis, government, and judiciary take no measures to make sure their demands are met. The TCI was privatized several years ago. But its ownership was handed over to individuals with close ties to the regime’s security institutions.

Majid Soltani, who became the CEO of the company in 2020, was previously the head of technology and communications of the repressive State Security Forces (SSF). He is a security figure and looks after the benefit of the regime and the IRGC instead of ensuring the rights of his employees and the retirees of the telecom company.

Another key figure is Mahmood Ebrahimzadeh, the chairman of the board of the telecom company, who is another veteran of the regime’s security apparatus. He has so far reneged on paying the overdue wages of the retirees.

In their rallies, the retirees of TCI are holding the regime in its entirety responsible for their current conditions. In Mashhad, the protesters were chanting, “Incompetent minister, resign, resign!”

In Isfahan, the retirees of TCI were making it clear that the main cause of their problem is the corrupt regime itself. They were chanting, “One less embezzlement case, and our problems will be solved!” referring to the astronomical financial fraud cases that involve government institutions and regime officials.

In Kermanshah, the retirees were chanting, “We saw no justice, we only heard lies!”

Protests were also reported in Ahvaz, Arak, Gorgan, Rasht, and Bandar Abbas.

On Tuesday, government retirees resumed their protest rallies in several cities, holding gatherings in front of the local offices of the government retirement fund and other government buildings.

In Hamedan, retired teachers and education workers hold protest rally, demanding the adjustment of their pensions according to inflation and costs of living.

In Sanandaj, the retirees were chanting, “High prices, inflation, are destroying the people’s lives!”

One of the recurring themes in these protests is the demand for the regime to implement its own laws. Like the telecom industry, the government retirement fund is subject to several laws that requires the government to adjust the wages of retirees to match the costs of living and the earnings of current employees. But the regime continues to dither on implementing its own rules.

In Ahvaz, retired government workers hold protest rally in front of the government retirement fund, demanding higher pensions and other basic rights.

One of the protesters said, “The money of retirees is under the robes of the mullahs!”

In Yazd, the protesters were chanting, “The adjustment of wages is our undeniable right!”

Similar protest rallies were reported in Poldokhtar, Kermanshah, Qazvin, Rasht, Tehran, Sari, and Tabriz.

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