New round of marketers' strike coincides with the start of US sanctions against the Islamic Republic

Reports indicate that a new round of Iranian marketers' strikes has begun, coinciding with the return of US sanctions against the Islamic Republic in various cities across the country.

Videos have been circulating online showing many shops closed in various Iranian cities, including Tehran, Gorgan, Babol, and Mashhad, on Monday, November 4. The images appear to indicate that business owners have joined a nationwide strike by marketers.

Previously, calls had been issued to begin a new round of these strikes to protest high prices, inflation, and market stagnation.

The new round of strikes comes as US sanctions against Iran were also imposed on Monday, sanctions that are expected to affect Iran's economic situation and lead to continued protests by marketers.

Last October, Iranian marketers protested against currency fluctuations, the economic situation, recession, high prices, and confusion among customers and vendors. They also went on strike and protested in July, which was met with a large police presence to deal with what they called "disturbers" of economic security.

Some experts consider the Bazaarians' protest to be a continuation of the January 2017 demonstrations and believe that the wave of demonstrations that began across Iran in January of last year has never completely died down.

The US Secretary of State had previously referred to the protests of Iranian marketers in a tweet and said that instead of spending money in its own country, the Islamic Republic is spending it on foreign terrorist groups and has trapped its own people.

But these nationwide strikes in Iran have spread to the bazaars, while the fourth round of truck drivers' protests has resumed for several days. The truck drivers, who faced widespread judicial and security crackdowns in their previous strikes, are now on strike to protest the arrest of their colleagues by Iranian security forces.

Source: Voice of America