On Saturday, March 1, various cities across Iran witnessed protests by different segments of society. These protests stem from economic hardships, poor working conditions, and the government’s failure to fulfill its promises. The demonstrations, involving nurses, workers, retirees, and housing applicants, reflect widespread dissatisfaction with the current situation and the people’s efforts to claim their rights. Below are the details of these events.
Nurses’ Protest in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari
On Saturday, nurses in the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province held a protest in front of the governor’s office. These healthcare workers protested against economic hardships and poor working conditions. According to informed sources, intelligence forces intervened, threatening the protesters and dispersing the gathering.
Housing Applicants Protest in Neyshabur
Applicants of the National Housing Plan in Neyshabur, eastern Iran, also staged a protest due to delays in receiving their residential units. One protester stated, “We registered for the National Housing Plan two years ago and made payments, but not only have the units not been delivered, the final delivery date and total cost remain unclear.” This uncertainty has fueled the applicants’ anger.
Protest by Workers of Transmission and Distribution Posts
Workers operating at the country’s transmission and distribution posts also held a protest in front of the Administrative and Recruitment Organization. These workers demanded a change in their employment status, the elimination of discrimination in bonuses and benefits compared to their officially employed colleagues, and the fulfillment of longstanding demands that have yet to be met.
Nurses’ Protest at Chamran Hospital in Isfahan
Nurses at Chamran Hospital in Isfahan also staged a protest in the hospital courtyard due to meager overtime pay (200,000 rials per hour, approximately 21 cents) and other unmet demands. They voiced their dissatisfaction with chants such as “Incompetent official, shame on you!” and “Nurses are not beggars, this low salary is not what we deserve!”
Protest by Retirees of Iran Air
On Wednesday, February 26, retirees of Iran Air (the national airline of Iran) staged a protest in front of the Ministry of Cooperatives to object to the illegal seizure of their pension fund assets. They chanted slogans demanding the protection of the fund’s assets and the prevention of the unlawful transfer of shares from its subsidiary companies. The head of the Iran Air Retirees’ Association stated during the protest: “Uninformed decisions by managers of the National Pension Fund, including the transfer of Chabahar Airlines to the Atieh Saba Holding, have harmed 10,000 employees and 13,000 retirees.”
The recent protests in various cities across Iran highlight the deep dissatisfaction of different social groups with economic conditions, discrimination in wages and benefits, and government neglect of legal demands. From nurses and workers to retirees and housing applicants, all are raising their voices for justice and better living conditions. These demonstrations underscore the reality that Ali Khamenei’s government has utterly failed to improve the livelihood of the people and different segments of society.
