Retirees and pensioners of the Iranian regime’s telecommunications industry held their weekly protest rallies in several cities across the country on Monday, as their living conditions continue to deteriorate and the ruling mullahs refuse to address their needs. Rallies were reported in Tehran, Rasht, Ilam, Kermanshah, Ahvaz, Tabriz, Mashhad, Sari, Sanandaj, Zanjan, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Bandar Abbas.
July 24—Tehran, #Iran
Retirees of the telecom industry hold protest rally, demanding higher pensions & other basic needs. Protesters chanting:
"Our enemy is right here, they're lying that it is the US!"
"Shout for your rights retirees!"#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/y5GM8bZscp— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 24, 2023
In Tehran, the protesters slammed regime authorities for blaming everything on foreign countries while destroying the country’s economy with their policies. “The enemy is right here! They’re lying that it is America!” the protesters chanted.
“Enough with the promises! Our tables are empty!” the protesters chanted.
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 has spiked severalfold while pensioners continue to receive the same stipends as before.
More footage of today's protest rally by retirees of the telecom industry in Ahvaz. Protesters are calling for the implementation of a law that was passed in 2010 and would increase their pensions.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/Vn6tkYh1JN
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 24, 2023
The protesters call for the regime to implement a law that was passed in 2010 that requires the government to increase the pensions of telecom retirees and provide them with basic services such as healthcare.
In Ilam, the retirees chanted slogans against Majid Soltani, the CEO of the state telecom company. Soltani, who took charge of the company in 2020, was previously the head of technology and communications of the repressive State Security Forces (SSF).
More footage of today's protest by retirees of the telecom industry in Isfahan. "We will continue these rallies on Monday until we obtain our rights," the protesters are saying.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/rSvECLXdg8
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 24, 2023
For several years regime officials have been making promises to implement the law for adjusting pensions. But as they continue to dither and delay, the lives of pensioners, who rely solely on government stipends, continue to spiral into poverty.
In Isfahan, the telecom retirees addressed Soltani and other regime authorities and said, “We will continue our Monday rallies until we obtain our rights.”
The protesters were chanting, “The government and Majlis don’t care about the people!”
July 24—Takestan, northwest #Iran
Protest rally by defrauded customers of state-run Rezayat Khodro car manufacturer. The company has taken the customers' payments but refrains from delivering their cars or return their funds.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/lQYuLm4Tsn— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 24, 2023
Also on Monday, defrauded customers of the state-run Rezayat Khodro car manufacturer held a protest rally in front of the governorate in Takestan, northwest Iran. The protesters had previously made down payments to receive vehicles from this company but the company refrained from delivering their purchases on time. The company continues to delay and dither and doesn’t refund the customers.
The regime dispatched a large number of security forces to control and disperse the crowd. One of the demonstrators tried to self-immolate in protest to the inaction of regime authorities. Meanwhile, the protesters were chanting that they will return to the streets and resume their protests as long as their demands are not met.
July 24—Yazd, central #Iran
Workers of Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Company continue their strike for the second day. The workers are demanding the adjustment of wages based on increasing inflation rates, and the payment of their stock dividends.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/c6HARWNKpU— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 24, 2023
The workers of the Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Company in Yazd, central Iran, held the second day of their strike and protests on Monday.
The workers are protesting poor working conditions, low and unstable wages, lack of payment of their stock dividends, and the adjustment of their wages based on their working conditions and the rising inflation rate in the country.
Also on Monday, families of hemophilia patients in front of the Ministry of Health to protest the lack of medicine and failure to address their demands.
July 24—Tehran, #Iran
Gathering of families of hemophilia patients in front of the Ministry of Health to protest the lack of medicine and failure to address their demands.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/zu5AXL6rA9— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 24, 2023