Human rights monitors and local agencies report a significant escalation in violence across Iran as protests over the collapse of the national currency and soaring living costs enter their fifth consecutive day.
🔴 NEW: At least six people were confirmed dead on the fifth day of spreading unrest across Iran
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Casualties and Clashes
Reports from the city of Lordegan in south-western Iran, and the cities of Azna and Kouhdasht in the west, indicate that at least six individuals have been killed during intense clashes between security forces and demonstrators.
The human rights group Hengaw has identified two of the deceased in Lordegan as protesters Ahmad Jalil and Sajjad Valamanesh. While state-affiliated media confirmed deaths in these regions, they have refrained from clarifying whether the casualties were civilians or security personnel, with the exception of one reported IRGC-linked security member killed in Kouhdasht.
Nature of the Protests
What began as a strike by Tehran shopkeepers on Sunday has rapidly evolved into a nationwide movement. Key developments include:
- Widespread Geography: Protests have been verified in Tehran, Lordegan, and Marvdasht.
- Political Demands: Demonstrators have moved beyond economic grievances, with many calling for an end to clerical rule and some advocating for a return to the monarchy.
- Institutional Shutdown: In a move widely viewed as an attempt to stifle mobilization, authorities declared a nationwide bank holiday on Wednesday, closing schools and universities under the guise of energy conservation.
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Human Rights Concerns
Despite President Masoud Pezeshkian’s statement that the government would listen to “legitimate demands,” the Prosecutor General has threatened a “decisive response” to instability. This rhetoric, combined with the deployment of heavy security in Tehran and the use of lethal force in the provinces, raises grave concerns regarding a repeat of the 2022 state crackdown.
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