Latest update – 10:30 pm CET
The economic grievances in Iran have been steadily mounting over the past few years, escalating significantly in recent months. The Iranian people are also grappling with an alarming devaluation of the national currency. This has resulted in a drop in purchasing power and a rise in unemployment, with many people struggling to make ends meet and unable to afford basic necessities. The cost of living has increased significantly and the gap between the rich and poor is widening.
The situation is further exacerbated by a lack of transparency and accountability from the mullahs’ regime, which has failed to deliver on its promises of economic reform. As a result, people in cities throughout the country are taking to the streets to voice their discontent and demand justice.
The protests have been met with a violent response from the security forces. In response, the regime has resorted to violent crackdown measures, coupled with censorship and a clampdown on freedom of expression, blocking access to social media and other online platforms. This has only served to further fuel the outrage and discontent of the protesters, who are determined to continue their fight for justice and economic reform. The international community has condemned the regime’s actions and called for an end to the violence.
Protests in Iran have to this day expanded for 160 days to at least 282 cities. Over 750 people have been killed and more than 30,000 are arrested by the regime’s forces, according to sources of Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). The names of 647 killed protesters have been published by the PMOI/MEK.
On Thursday night, locals in Tehran’s Tehransar district began chanting anti-regime slogans, including:
“Death to the dictator!” referring to regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
“Death to the child-killing regime!”
“This is the last message: the whole regime is the target!”
February 23 – Tehran, #Iran
Locals in the city's Tehransar district are chanting:
"Death to the dictator!"
"Death to the child-killing regime!"
"This is the last message: the whole regime is the target!"#No2ShahNo2Mullahs#مرگ_بر_ستمگر_چه_شاه_باشه_چه_رهبرpic.twitter.com/4XbdnREmsb— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 23, 2023
Locals in Tehran’s different districts, including Fatemi, Amirabad, Punak, Qasroldasht, and Narmak, were chanting anti-regime slogans on Wednesday night, including “Death to the dictator!” Similar scenes of protests were reported at a metro station where people were also chanting “Death to Khamenei!”
Protesters in Bandar Abbas, a major port city in southern Iran, took to the streets on Wednesday night and launched a nightly demonstration where they were chanting various anti-regime slogans, including: “This is the year Seyed Ali (Khamenei) is overthrown!” and “Our compatriots did not die for us to appease the murderous [Khamenei]!”
Workers of a local chromite mine in the town of Esfandagheh in Kerman Province, south-central Iran, are holding a gathering on Thursday protesting not receiving their paychecks and insurance pensions for the past three months, and end-of-year bonuses.
February 22 – Tehran, #Iran
Locals in the capital's Fatemi district were chanting:
"Death to the dictator!"#No2ShahNo2Mullahs #مرگ_بر_ستمگر_چه_شاه_باشه_چه_رهبر pic.twitter.com/ccdxjrYeCR— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 23, 2023
Locals in the Grand Bazaar area and the Aladdin shopping complex in Tehran took to the streets on Wednesday protesting the country’s deteriorating economy and the nosediving national currency.
People in a metro station in the capital Tehran began chanting anti-regime slogans on Wednesday morning, including “Khamenei is a disgrace!” specifically voicing their hatred of the mullahs’ dictator.
Homeowners in Tehran’s 21st district were rallying outside the local municipal on Wednesday morning protesting the regime’s policies.
Landowners of the capital’s Punak district gathered outside the Presidential office on Wednesday demanding answers from authorities on why they’re refused construction permits on their lands.
February 22 – Tehran, #Iran
People at the city's Grand Bazaar are protesting the country's deteriorating economy.#No2ShahNo2Mullahs #مرگ_بر_ستمگر_چه_شاه_باشه_چه_رهبر pic.twitter.com/lY6wJZmBVdpic.twitter.com/TyT6u11kQ0— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 22, 2023
Retirees and pensioners of the Social Security Organization held a protest rally in Ahvaz, southwest Iran, on Wednesday protesting low wages and pensions, insurance issues, and poor living conditions.
Storeowners in Arak, central Iran, were on strike on Wednesday protesting poor economic conditions and the country’s nosediving national currency.
Villagers living near the city of Kashan, central Iran, were holding a gathering on Wednesday protesting mining activities in their areas that are threatening their livelihood.
Retired teachers in the capital Tehran were rallying outside the regime’s Education Ministry protesting their poor economic conditions. A similar protest rally by retired teachers was held in the city of Shiraz where the participants chanted various slogans, including: “Release jailed teachers!”
February 22 – Tehran, #Iran
More footage of retired teachers rallying outside the regime's Education Ministry protesting poor economic conditions.#IranProtests2023 pic.twitter.com/LDuNXvU1OM— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 22, 2023
Iranian opposition coalition NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi emphasized the Iranian people’s decades of struggle against the mullahs’ regime to establish a free, secular, and democratic Iran.
“What is happening in the streets of Iran is the continuation of the battle with the same slogans and aspirations as 40 years ago, which is led by brave women, courageous youths, and Resistance Units. It is marching towards the overthrow of the mullahs and a free Iran,” the NCRI President-elect explained.
What is happening in the streets of #Iran is the continuation of the battle with the same slogans and aspirations as 40 years ago, which is led by brave women, courageous youths, and resistance units. It is marching towards the overthrow of the mullahs and a #FreeIran pic.twitter.com/4RWgYL909a
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) February 22, 2023
The protests in Iran began following the death of Mahsa Amini. Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, a 22-year-old woman from the city of Saqqez in Kurdistan Province, western Iran, who traveled to Tehran with her family, was arrested on Tuesday, September 13, at the entry of Haqqani Highway by the regime’s so-called “Guidance Patrol” and transferred to the “Moral Security” agency.
She was brutally beaten by the morality police and died of her wounds in a Tehran hospital on September 16. The event triggered protests that quickly spread across Iran and rekindled the people’s desire to overthrow the regime.
