Unrest in Saravan; Several fuel tankers killed and governor's office seized

The reason for the conflict is still unclear.

The Saravan representative called the killing of a group of fuel tankers an "unfortunate incident" and said, "The matter is being investigated by security officials and the country's top brass so that legal action can be taken against those who may have been negligent or caused problems." He emphasized, "We must be mindful of the people."

Saeed Tajlili, head of the Saravan City Security Council, told ILNA on Tuesday, March 25, "We have not yet received any detailed information about the events on Monday at the Saravan border," and "we cannot comment on this matter at this time."

Shahbakhsh Gargij, a representative of Sistan and Baluchestan in the Supreme Council of Provinces, also told ILNA that it is still unclear whether “the incident was carried out by internal forces or by forces from outside the border.” He emphasized that “we have not yet been able to contact anyone in Saravan to obtain more information, so we have not been able to obtain accurate information in this regard.”

" Resistant and counter-revolutionary groups " are involved .

But Mohammad Hadi Marashi, deputy security officer of the Sistan and Baluchestan governorate, told the Young Journalists' Club, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards: "The gathering of people carrying fuel at the border crossing and their lack of restraint caused the attack on our country's border post this morning. After this incident, we spoke with local officials and the matter was brought under control."

He claimed that no one was harmed and that the matter was being investigated. Regarding the occupation of the governor's office by the people, Marashi said that "some people in cyberspace were inciting people to gather, who then attacked the governor's office and dispersed by breaking the windows of the governor's office."

Mohammad Hadi Marashi attributed the events in Saravan and the killing of the fuel tankers by the Revolutionary Guards to the work of "counter-revolutionary and hostile groups" who, according to him, "had already carried out this sabotage by drawing up a plan and encouraging profit-seeking individuals."

"Unemployment in parts of Sistan and Baluchestan is unparalleled in the world "

Iran's border areas in Sistan and Baluchestan province are among the most deprived parts of Iran. Every year, many people are shot and killed by security forces along this long border. Fuel tankers make a living transporting fuel across the Iran-Pakistan border. They receive gasoline or diesel from intermediaries who bring it to this area from other places and transport it across the border.

According to HRANA, a group of human rights activists in Iran published a joint report in January of this year examining the performance of military forces and casualties inflicted on citizens, especially in the country's border areas, during the year 2018. Their report states that this year, "300 citizens in 11 provinces of the country were directly or indirectly injured as a result of the actions of military forces."

The unemployment rate in the border areas of Sistan and Baluchestan is very high, the level of industrial and agricultural development is low, and the poverty of the people is severe. The province also faces water shortages and repeated droughts. Much land has been lost in recent years due to this water shortage, and many villages have become uninhabited.

According to Aleem Yarmohammadi, a representative from Zahedan in the 10th Parliament, "Unemployment in parts of Sistan and Baluchestan is unparalleled in the world. The unemployment rate in Qasr-e-Qand and Nikshahr is around 65 percent, and in Chabahar and Zahedan it is around 40 percent."

He also mentioned the problem of fuel consumption, which has been “very prominent” for several years. He emphasized that as long as industries are not established in this region and agriculture does not flourish, “we cannot firmly ask people to stop fuel consumption. The province has fallen into this situation due to water shortages, and industry has not been given much attention.”