On Sunday, May 4, protest gatherings were held by various segments of the Iranian population in several cities across the country. In these protests, retirees and other citizens expressed solidarity with the victims of the recent incident in Bandar Abbas and chanted slogans against the regime.
A protest by social security retirees in Khuzestan province was held to express outrage over dire living and economic conditions and the authorities’ failure to respond to their rightful demands. Retirees gathered in the city of Ahvaz and chanted: “Condolences, condolences to Bandar Abbas; our enemy is right here, they lie and say it’s America; drop the headscarf, think about us; no handouts, no charity, give us our rights with dignity; when it’s our turn, the treasury is empty; imprisoned workers must be freed; imprisoned protesters must be freed; message to the government: shame on you!”
Continued Protests of Iranian Retirees and Workers on the Eve of International Workers’ Day
Protest by retirees of Shush, Karkheh and Haft Tappeh
Retirees of Shush, Karkheh and Haft Tappeh held a protest rally in Shush in response to poverty, destitution, and hardship, as well as inflation, rising prices, inadequate wages, theft and looting, corruption, injustice, discrimination, and inequality.
At the protest, the retirees chanted: “We won’t rest until we get our rights — neither cold nor heat can stop us — they plundered social security, they ruined us — wealthy country, what happened to you?”
March by steel and mining retirees in Isfahan and Kerman provinces
Steel and mining retirees from the provinces of Isfahan and Kerman organized protest marches and rallies to object to the economic situation and their unmet livelihood demands. They chanted: “Both parliament and government lied to the people; cries of anguish over all this oppression; stop your theft and solve our problems.”
Protest by oil sector employees in Tehran
Permanent employees of the oil sector who joined after passing the 2013 recruitment exam held a major protest in front of the Ministry of Petroleum in Tehran, voicing opposition to the regime’s neglect of their demands.
They are demanding an updated base salary scale, full implementation of Article 10 of the Ministry of Petroleum’s regulations, revisions to performance and merit averages, and the application of special and restorative pay allowances.
These employees also insist on adjusting their educational credentials and contract periods based on the 2013 law, but the incompetence and corruption of the regime—which continues to plunder the country’s oil resources—have kept these workers in hardship, fueling their anger.
Protest by residents of Nilkooh following dangerous explosions at Teloustan Cement Factory
On May 3, residents of Nilkooh in Golestan Province gathered in protest in front of the Teloustan Cement Factory following a series of powerful explosions.
Protesters stated that the explosions, which have shaken rural homes and caused panic among children and the elderly, have not only shattered their mental peace but also pose a direct threat to their lives.
One resident said: “This is a matter of our lives; we’re constantly afraid of the next explosion—one day, the roofs of our houses will collapse.”
The locals demanded the immediate halt of explosive activities, an independent expert investigation, and transparent accountability from regime officials. However, no official has yet made any statement regarding the cause or damage of these explosions.
