Tehran (TDI): Protests over rising inflation and economic hardship in Iran have intensified, leaving at least two security personnel dead and more than 30 others injured, Iranian media reported on Wednesday.
Clashes erupted in Lordegan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, after shopkeepers staged a shutter-down strike that quickly drew large crowds onto the streets chanting anti-government slogans. The demonstrations turned violent, with protesters throwing stones at police and, in some instances, firing on security forces. Several government buildings, including the governor’s office, were damaged during the unrest.
In a separate incident in Bojnurd, Khorasan province, protesters set fire to a shop. Security forces reportedly extinguished the fire and moved a nearby civilian vehicle to safety to prevent further damage. Additional security personnel have been deployed to affected areas to contain the unrest and prevent its spread.
Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah said President Pezeshkian had ordered that demonstrators not be met with force. “Those who carry firearms, knives and machetes and attack police stations and military sites are rioters, and we must distinguish them from peaceful protesters,” he said.
Read More: Iran Protest Violence Claims at Least 10 Lives as Unrest Continues
While the demonstrations have remained smaller than the nationwide unrest of 2022–23, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, they have quickly broadened from economic grievances to include anti-government slogans. Reports indicate that roughly 1,200 people have been arrested, and at least 250 police officers and 45 members of the Basij paramilitary force have been injured.
Human rights groups Hengaw and HRANA report that the nationwide death toll has reached between 25 and 35, including four minors and two security personnel. Iran’s Foreign Ministry has accused the United States and Israel of fomenting the unrest, charges both Washington and Tel Aviv have denied.
Read More: Iran Warns US Meddling Over Protests Will Destabilize the Region
The protests, now entering their 11th consecutive day, reflect growing public frustration over inflation, currency depreciation, and broader economic hardship.
