As the retirees’ protest in Iran went into its eighth consecutive week on Sunday, March 14, 2021, this time encompassing a dozen cities, it’s time to ask why are they protesting, and why are their demands not met?

To sum up, Social Security organization retirees have been protesting over pitiful pensions that leave them in poverty. As inflation soars and prices rise, their pensions have remained that same and they can barely afford to live, especially those who have seen delays in getting their pensions.

They want their pensions paid in full and on-time, as well as for the regime to tie their pension with the inflation rate. Other demands include free healthcare and the prioritisation of their issues in parliament. The regime has not answered these calls.

On Sunday, March 14, the pensioners chanted:

• “Bankrupted government is the pensioners’ enemy”
• “Our country sits on treasures; retirees live in hardships”
• “Enough with oppression, our table our empty”

Let’s look at why these chants are being made.

The regime has spent eight weeks trying to scare pensioners out of protesting by calling or texting them with “warnings”. When that didn’t work, the regime began arresting and beating pensioners last week, but were mostly pushed back by the crowd.

The regime says that it doesn’t have enough money to pay pensioners, but they did find the money for another missile town recently. In fact,  Iran is “the fifth richest country… in terms of natural resources”, despite having only 1% of the world’s population and a land mass of a similar percentage.

Some 80% of Iranians are in poverty but it’s not because the money isn’t there. It’s because the regime prioritises missile production and terrorism, while the people can’t afford chicken or fruit. The recent bragging about the increase in minimum wage, which doesn’t even make a difference because of the high levels of inflation, is an attempt by the mullahs  to pull the wool over the people’s eyes. It is not working.

Sociologist Saied Moidfar told the regime: “In my opinion, you should be afraid of these crowds, maybe one day the people will be exhausted. Then acting will be useless. Today, people are worried about society’s future and their lives because society is on the verge of great crises. If crises pile up and the rulers do not listen to the voices of the protesters, the continuation of such a phenomenon can end the patience of the people. If there is no change in Iran soon, the mental state of the society will soon become more dangerous.”