Mass protests and strikes in Iran over inflation and currency devaluation have spread from the capital, Tehran, to several other cities on a third day of unrest.
The protests began when shopkeepers in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar staged a strike after the Iranian rial hit a record low against the US dollar. Iran is facing a deepening economic, fuelled by international sanctions and inflation has been rising sharply.
Videos verified by BBC Persian have shown demonstrations in the cities of Karaj, Hamedan, Qeshm, Malard, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Shiraz and Yazd. University students have joined the protests, chanting anti-government slogans including “death to the dictator” – a reference to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate power in Iran. Security forces have been using tear gas in an attempt to disperse the protesters.
The Iranian government said it “recognises the protests” and would listen “with patience, even if it is confronted with harsh voices”. President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X late on Monday that he had instructed the interior minister to hold talks with what he described as “representatives” of the protesters so that measures could be taken “to resolve the problems and act responsibly”.
Some protesters have been chanting slogans in support of the son of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, including “Long live the Shah”.
Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Parham Ghobadi of the BBC Persian Service.
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Verás la diferencia… tendrás fuerzas y energías para vivir la vida con optimismo….Yo lo haré por amor a usted y respeto…
I’m from India, so it’s not my place to say what system is best for Iran. That choice belongs to Iranians alone. I just want to say I deeply respect the people of Iran and truly pray for a peaceful, safe, and hopeful future for them.
Iranians are incredibly kind and strong people. Even during hardship, they welcome guests and share what little they have. That level of humanity and warmth is inspiring. Much love and respect to the people of Iran.
we are saying long live the king dont believe bbc. they want commies to rule iran and they were the ones who supported islamic republic for 50 years. we want the Shah on his Throne. جاوید شاه
La máscara fue fabricada en la galaxia Andromeida en el planeta p -79 llamado ankuro imecanico….Dónde hubo y existió una vez una raza de hombres gigantes…..
Kate, Camila, Harry, Charles, William no estén tristes….Dios reparará y proveerá y repondra todo lo perdido…….Feliz Navidad y próspero año Nuevo 20026….
free the persians
When Israel and USA are successful so they start political chaos in Iran remember that either their people facing such crisis but Israel and USA are not successful their aim insha’Allah.
As a Libyan citizen, I say Israel did its duty against the Iranian octopus. Bashar al-Assad, an Arab, killed a million Arabs and displaced 16 million Syrians—that’s permissible. Yemen, an Arab fighting against another Arab, with a million dead, especially when Saudi Arabia was killing Yemeni children in 2017—that’s permissible. Sudan, an Arab fighting against another Arab, with more than half a million dead—that’s permissible. Saddam Hussein, the hero of the hole, killed 5 million Muslims and Kurds and ignited senseless wars like the invasion of Kuwait—that’s permissible. Israel defending itself after a horrific, bloody attack—that’s forbidden!
My greetings to the peaceful Jewish people. My grandmothers were raised by a Libyan Jewish woman in 1941 during a fascist occupation. They suffered greatly because of the cursed Mussolini, then Gaddafi, who expelled them without cause. This is a planet that only respects the strong.
This is a revolution