Wave of Street Protests Reaches Several Other Cities

A new wave of protests has taken shape in Iran. Public protests that began in Shiraz, Isfahan, and Shahinshahr have now spread to Karaj, Mashhad, Shiraz, Sari, and several other cities. A tense security situation has been reported in Tehran.

News published on social media networks, as well as coverage of the unrest by domestic Iranian media and on the official Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency “IRNA” outlets, indicate that protests continued on Thursday, the 11th of Mordad (August 2).

News related to unrest and public protests in Isfahan and several other Iranian cities has also been covered by international media.

In reports from world news agencies, including coverage published by the Associated Press of the protest gatherings, reference has been made to the severe economic situation and soaring inflation dominating society.

This is while Iranian media, including reports published by “IRNA,” indicate that participants in these gatherings chanted “subversive slogans.”

Shiraz Public Protests

The “IRNA” news agency in a report released on Thursday, the 11th of Mordad from Shiraz, reported on public protests in downtown Shiraz. “IRNA” subsequently claimed that the Shiraz unrest had ended.

On social media networks, a call had been issued for organizing a demonstration in downtown Shiraz for Wednesday, the 10th of Mordad, which did not take place.

The official news agency of the Islamic Republic cited the “authoritative presence of police forces” as the reason for the non-occurrence of the demonstration. However, on Thursday, police forces were unable to prevent the gathering of people from Zand Street and several other locations in Shiraz.

This was while officials in Fars Province had declared the demonstration illegal before it was held.

Street protests in Shiraz, which IRNA refers to as an “illegal gathering,” were held including on Tawhid Street in the city.

The news agency wrote about the protest gathering of Shiraz residents: “The protesters who gathered at this location [Tawhid Street] in response to calls issued on social media networks mostly chanted subversive slogans; although in the calls, the purpose of the gathering was stated to be protesting against inflation.”

On Tuesday, the 9th of Mordad, Shiraz also witnessed street protests. A number of residents of this city gathered on Molasadra Street during Tuesday’s protests and chanted slogans against the government and state authorities.

Hadi Pejuhesh Jahremani, political and security deputy of Fars Province governor, described the slogans of Shiraz residents as mostly against the government and said: “Few slogans were chanted in protest of inflation.”

The political and security deputy of Fars Province governor claimed that street protests in Shiraz were directed and engineered by forces “from outside.”

Protests in Other Cities

Isfahah and Shahinshahr witnessed street protests for the third day. The presence of police forces in main squares was also unable to prevent protest gatherings in the city. Overall, a tense security situation has been reported.

Other demonstrations were also reported in the cities of Karaj, Sari, and Mashhad. Furthermore, the situation in several squares of Tehran, including Vanak Square and Tajrish, has been reported as very tense. Reports regarding protest gatherings in Tehran have been published on social media networks.

The “IRNA” news agency reported on clashes between police forces in Isfahan and Shiraz with people who participated in these protests. Precise information about the number of possible arrests during these protests has not yet been released.

In videos published on social media networks, images can be seen of burning car tires as a counter to tear gas.

This report is being updated.

Source: DW