Protests continue in Iran; protesters chant slogans against Ayatollah Khamenei

The Abadan protests quickly spread to other cities in the country. Internet access was cut or slowed down for several hours in areas where the protests were taking place. Demonstrators chanted slogans against the Leader of the Islamic Republic.

According to reports on social media, protests continued in the cities of Abadan, Khorramshahr, and Behbahan on Thursday night (May 26). Authorities have attempted to slow down internet speeds to prevent the protests from spreading to other parts of the country. There have been reports of disruptions to both urban and mobile internet in various parts of Iran.

During the protests in the cities of Khuzestan, slogans such as "Death to Khamenei," "Shame on Khamenei, leave the country," and "Khamenei is a murderer, his governorship is invalid" were chanted.

The demonstrators also demanded a public trial of all those responsible for the collapse of the Abadan Metropole Tower.

Angry protesters in Abadan reacted to the government's "Salute to Commander" ceremony at Azadi Stadium with slogans such as "Our city is in ruins, those responsible are always asleep" and "Abadan is a bloodbath, Tehran is a wedding."

According to eyewitness reports, women were actively present in the Khorramshahr demonstrations.

Protests over the collapse of the Metropole Tower in Abadan have spread beyond the borders of Khuzestan. Protests continued in Shahinshahr, Isfahan, on Thursday evening.

Reza Pahlavi's message

In recent days, opposition groups and activists abroad have reacted to the actions in Khuzestan. Among them, Prince Reza Pahlavi issued a message calling for increased solidarity among the Iranian people and their support for each other.

Another part of the message reads: "Today, the grieving mothers of Abadan are the same mothers of Aban; the mothers of Izeh and Andimeshk and Farsan and Junqan. The mothers of the Kurdistan laborers and the Sistan and Baluchestan laborers; the mothers of Iran. Their pain is the pain of the Iranian nation. We will not leave them alone."

Raisi's concern

In response to the protests, the Islamic Republic has taken the path of repression and intimidation, but at the same time, it has spoken of Raisi's cabinet's support for the people and efforts to solve their problems.

The IRNA news agency has reported on the visit of ministers of the 13th government to the cities to solve the problems of the people. A report on this matter states that the visit of Rostam Ghasemi, Minister of Roads and Urban Development, continued until late at night.

Before sending his ministers to the cities, Ebrahim Raisi said: “Solve the people’s problems so that the issues can be resolved.” The President of the Islamic Republic did not mention the people’s protests and the problems expressed in the demonstrations.

Latest status of Metropole Tower

Iranian media reported that debris removal continued and the foul smell of bodies was spreading from under the rubble of the Metropole Tower.

Mehran Ranjkesh, a reporter for Rokna, also posted a Twitter message in this regard on Friday morning, June 26.

According to some reports, the number of victims is higher than the official figure. Abadan Governor Ehsan Abbaspour said that the number of victims of the Metropole building collapse in Abadan has increased to 19 and the number of injured has increased to 37.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi has also warned of "the possibility of the remaining structure collapsing."

Source: DW