Social Security Organization retirees and pensioners throughout Iran held protests rallies for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, June 7, demanding higher wages and pensions, insurance issues to be resolved, and improved living conditions. Protests were reported in the cities of Mashhad, Karaj, Isfahan, Qazvin, Khorramabad, Shush, among others.
The retirees are regularly protesting, and these gatherings are escalating following two recent series of major anti-regime protests in the past several weeks, triggered by extremely poor economic conditions, rising inflation, and skyrocketing prices of food staples, including bread, milk, dairy products, cooking oil, and others.
The retirees and pensioners are demanding an increase in pensions as an immediate measure to address their worsening economic conditions, while Iran’s economy in general continues to nosedive thanks to the regime’s mismanagement, unprecedented corruption across the board, and the mullahs’ destructive policies.
Protesters in Qazvin were seen chanting “Death to Raisi!” referring to regime President Ebrahim Raisi, and demanding he live up to his promises.
June 7 – Qazvin, northwest #Iran
Social Security Organization pensioners protesting regime officials' refusal to address their long-raised demands.
"Death to Raisi!" they're chanting, referring to regime President Ebrahim Raisi.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/pDq5ZqruMS— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) June 7, 2022
In Mashhad, protesters were chanting “Inflation is 100 percent!
Our pensions 10 percent!” referring to the country’s rising inflation and how their mere pensions are leaving them unable to make ends meet.
In Khorramabad, retirees held a rally outside the local Social Security Org. office chanting: “Today is a day of mourning! The poor retirees are in mourning today!”
June 7 – Khorramabad, western #Iran
Social Security Organization pensioners protesting regime officials' refusal to address their long-raised demands.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/8oJNMhO2a1— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) June 7, 2022
In Isfahan, the gathering retirees complained about how the regime’s oppressive State Security Forces were not allowing them to hold their gathering. This signals how regime officials are extremely concerned about even the slightest possibility of such rallies evolving into anti-regime protests.
After assuming office in August 2021, Raisi made bold promises to eradicate poverty and improve the economic situation of the country. Ten months into his presidency, prices of basic goods are skyrocketing, inflation is at a record high, and the price of the rial is continuing to nosedive.
June 7 – Isfahan, central #Iran
Social Security Organization pensioners protesting regime officials' refusal to address their long-raised demands."State police is not allowing the retirees to hold their gathering!"#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/czIbPXM0XQ
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) June 7, 2022
Pensioners and retirees are among the worst-hit segments of society. They depend on government stipends to make ends meet, but the regime has refused to increase their pensions in correspondence with growing inflation and the depreciation of the national currency.
The government was supposed to increase pensions in the new Persian calendar year (starting in March). It was also supposed to settle unpaid pensions remaining from the previous year. So far, it has yet to deliver on both demands.
Interestingly, the regime’s own media reported that The Social Security Investment Company (SHASTA), the financial institution that is supposed to fund retirees, has seen a significant increase in its profits in the past year. However, these profits have yet to materialize in the lives of pensioners and retirees.
June 7 – Zanjan, northwest #Iran
Social Security Organization pensioners protesting regime officials' refusal to address their long-raised demands.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/PW8vysL5bZ— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) June 7, 2022
In recent weeks, the prices of flour, bread, milk, cooking oil, and other basic food items have increased several-fold. The regime has been making hollow promises to control inflation and prices but has failed to do so.
This has fueled protests in several cities, which have quickly turned into anti-regime rallies calling for the overthrow of the mullahs’ rule.
While pensioners, workers, drivers, teachers, and other social sectors are deprived of their most basic needs, the regime continues to fund its military and terror apparatus, funneling billions of dollars into the coffers of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and its terrorist proxies in the region and spending huge amounts on developing and testing ballistic missiles.
June 7 – Dorud, western #Iran
Social Security Organization pensioners protesting regime officials' refusal to address their long-raised demands."Incompetent minister, resign, resign!" they're chanting.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/n0GfSjupYJ
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) June 7, 2022
