On Sunday, February 28, for the fourth time in as many weeks, pensioners and welfare recipients staged protests in over a dozen cities because of the mullahs’ refusal to act over their terrible living conditions caused by low pensions.
The protesters are furious to have not only been forced into poverty thanks to the mismanagement and corruption of the regime in recent years, but also because nothing has been done to improve their lot, i.e., raising their pensions in line with inflation.
The retirees chanted:
- “We are fed up with this injustice”
- “No nation has experienced such injustice”
- “High prices and inflation are the people’s problem”
- “Retirees demand salaries based on the inflation rate”
- “Stellar salaries [for government officials], public misery”
- “Promises are enough, our pockets are empty”
Of course, pensioners were far from the only group holding rallies across the country in the past few weeks. Here are just some of the other groups that have been out protesting:
- contract teachers
- public school janitors
- Isfahan Steel and Mine Industry retirees
- HEPCO factory workers
- Sanandaj locals
- Chulab Kouchesfahan residents
- Ilam Petrochemical Plant employees
While protests are a daily occurrence in Iran, these have notably been happening at the same time that people have been protesting in Sistan and Baluchistan over the killing of fuel porters by the IRGC in February.
The people of Iran are up in arms and, as the economic crisis worsens, it looks more and more likely that the regime will face yet more protests. This may well spur an uprising like those seen in 2017 and 2019, as the people see that the regime is unable to resolve the people’s problems.
Why? Well, the mullahs is facing international isolation due to its ongoing breaches of the 2015 nuclear deal and its diplomat’s recent conviction for terrorism. And the process for reversing this is something that the mullahs will not take.
The Iranian Resistance wrote: “In such circumstances, the regime must acquiesce to international calls to respect human rights, restrict its malign behaviour in the Middle East, and stop its provocative ballistic missile programs. The people of Iran will welcome international pressure, leading the regime to decrease oppressive measures and pave the path for further protests.”
Even the state-run Hamdeli daily warned that the situation is perilous for the regime because of the people’s “depression” and general hatred for the mullahs. Is this a sign that the mullahs will soon be overthrown?
