Widening the scope of protests against economic and political pressures

These protests are apparently not limited to Khuzestan, but have also spread to areas such as Shahr-e-Kurd and Drood in Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari and Lorestan provinces.

In some videos, security officers can be seen clashing with protesters. The slogans are not limited to issues related to livelihood pressures, but also target the top of the political pyramid and demand their resignation: “Be ashamed, president, leave the country” or “Be a lying president, what are your promises?”

In this regard, some reports have indicated the setting of fire on a mosque and some public places, and the debate about the correctness of these actions and the nature of the perpetrators has become heated on social media.

Messages indicating the arrest of dozens of demonstrators have also been published on social media.

Deutsche Welle is unable to verify or confirm the published news and videos.

A number of citizens are also reporting in their messages on social media about widespread internet and mobile phone outages in various cities in Khuzestan. Only home internet is working at low speed.

The night before, on Wednesday evening (May 11), videos were also posted on social media in which a number of citizens chanted slogans such as "Death to Khamenei," "Death to Raisi," "Tank cannons explode, the mullah must disappear," and "May your soul be happy, Reza Shah."

Livelihood pressures and lack of prospects

In recent days, protests against high prices and living conditions have been held in various cities in Khuzestan, which have been met with a harsh government response. Among the government measures to prevent the spread of the protests were slowing down the internet speed and, in some cases, cutting off the internet and mobile phones.

Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last king of Iran, praised the protests in a message on his Telegram channel on Thursday night, writing: "I know that the patience of the majority of the Iranian people has run out and soon the streets across the country will be filled with protesting crowds."