Protestors were angry that authorities had failed to provide basic services to counter the recent disruption in gas supply which provides for much of the citys heating during the winter cold.
For two weeks, the gas has been cut off in my home. My children have caught a cold, and I dont have the means to see to their needs, said a working-class protestor present at the standoff outside the compound housing provincial officials.
He told Iran Focus that residents gathered outside the town hall at 14:00 local time and began to chant anti-government slogans. Soon after, the angry protestors attacked the building and set parts of it ablaze. The protest rapidly grew in size and lasted for several hours.
State Security Forces were brought in to disperse the crowd.
Nearby, in the city of Sari, angry residents took to the streets fed up with the governments lack of performance in tackling the gas shortages.