Pensioners Hold Protest Rallies In Several Cities Across Iran

Retirees and pensioners of Iran’s Social Security Organization staged protest rallies in several Iranian cities on Sunday, amid worsening economic conditions.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists' News Agency (HRANA), the demonstrations were held at provincial offices of the organization in Tabriz, Ahvaz, Mashhad, Kermanshah and some others. 

Retirees are protesting against meager pensions, issues in their medical insurance services and poor living conditions in general. The steep fall in the value of Iran’s currency has slashed the purchasing power of retirees and workers.

Similar protest rallies have also been held in various cities in the past few days by various other groups, including ranchers, farmers, miners, and teachers. 

On Saturday, ranchers in at least 10 cities gathered at the offices of the Agriculture Ministry, miners from the northern Mazandaran province held a rally in front of Iran’s Mineral Processing and Processing Company in Tehran, and workers of Gachsaran petrochemical company in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province staged a strike. 

People in several towns of the southwestern Khuzestan province also held demonstrations against the rise in bread prices. 

Moreover, the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations issued a statement Sunday saying if teachers detained in the past two weeks are not released, they will hold another nationwide protest.

Several teachers and union activists were arrested before, during and after the latest round of protests across the country on May 1, the international Labor Day.

People from different walks of life, including teachers, nurses, firefighters, and even staff members of the judiciary department and prison guards, have protested or gone on strikes to demand higher salaries.