As the livelihood crisis, inflation, rising prices, and economic discontent continued to deepen, cities across Iran witnessed protests and rallies on Sunday, July 12, involving various groups including retirees, workers, drivers, students, bakers, and people who lost money in fraud schemes. In most of these gatherings, protesters emphasized labor and livelihood demands while voicing opposition to poverty, discrimination, corruption, repression, and the authorities’ disregard for their concerns.
Kermanshah; Social Security Retirees Protest Poverty and Discrimination
A group of Social Security retirees and pension recipients in Kermanshah held a protest, demanding the immediate fulfillment of their livelihood and healthcare-related demands.
The protesters chanted slogans including “Enough warmongering, our tables are empty,” “Inflation, high prices, no to war and destruction,” “The streets are the stronghold of working people,” “Imprisoned workers must be freed,” and “Imprisoned teachers must be freed,” expressing their dissatisfaction with the current situation.
The retirees identified the full implementation of Article 96 of Iran’s Social Security Law, pension equalization, payment of overdue benefits, free healthcare, settlement of the government’s debts to the Social Security Organization and transferring the organization’s management to representatives of workers and retirees as their main demands.
During the rally, a retired woman criticized the failure to implement promised pension increases, the suspension of survivors’ benefits, and unpaid entitlements. She also criticized the availability of financial resources for propaganda and alleged managerial corruption within Shasta, the Social Security Investment Company.
Tehran; Heavy Vehicle Drivers and Victims of Tabriz Companies Protest
In Tehran, heavy vehicle drivers who purchased trucks from the companies Ayan Tejarat, Maral Tejarat, and Kalaye Momtaz Iranian gathered to protest the companies’ failure to deliver the vehicles.
Pointing to corruption and inefficiency in Iran’s Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade and other responsible institutions, the protesters demanded the immediate resolution of their contracts.
At the same time, people who said they had lost money through three Tabriz-based companies held a protest demanding action on their legal cases. They said that despite filing complaints against the managers of Ayan, Elyal, and Momtaz, proceedings at the Tabriz Prosecutor’s Office have been delayed and remain unclear.
The gathering featured the slogan, “Enough promises, our tables are empty.”
Also in the capital, a group of retirees protested deteriorating living conditions and declining purchasing power, demanding pension increases in line with the cost of living.
Damghan; Strike by Tazareh Coal Mine Workers
Workers at the Tazareh coal mine, operated by the Alborz Sharghi Coal Company in Damghan, went on strike and staged a protest.
The miners cited unpaid wages, unpaid insurance contributions, overdue payments, and disregard for workers’ rights as their main grievances.
Gilan; Retirees Protest While Calling for Prisoners’ Release
Retirees in Gilan also took to the streets alongside protesters in other cities across Iran.
Participants chanted slogans including “Imprisoned teachers must be freed,” “Imprisoned workers must be freed,” “No to executions,” “Oppression and injustice have driven us to the streets,” and “With these empty tables, we continue to protest,” calling for the release of imprisoned protesters, a halt to executions, and action on livelihood demands.
Ahvaz; Demand for Free Healthcare
Social Security retirees in Ahvaz gathered outside the local Social Security office to demand the implementation of their right to free healthcare.
The protesters stressed, “Free healthcare is our undeniable right,” while protesting rising medical costs and reduced insurance coverage.
Shiraz; Medical Students Protest Food Quality
A group of students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences placed their meal trays on the ground in protest against the poor quality of dormitory food.
Through this protest, the students demanded that university officials address welfare services and improve the quality of dormitory meals.
Alborz Province; Bakers Demand Bread Price Revision
A group of bakers in Alborz Province also held a protest over the economic crisis, rising production costs, and the unchanged official price of bread.
Their key demands included adjusting bread prices in line with inflation, increasing subsidized flour allocations, compensating production costs, regular payment of government subsidies, and reforming the flour quota allocation system.
Shush; Retirees March in Temperatures Above 50°C
Despite temperatures exceeding 50°C, Social Security retirees in Shush marched and held a protest.
Participants chanted slogans including “Inflation, high prices, no to war and destruction,” “The streets are the stronghold of working people,” “Retirees, rise up to end discrimination,” “Neither the government nor the Majlis (parliament) cares about the people,” “We will not stop until we get our rights,” and “Livelihood and dignity are our undeniable rights,” protesting poverty, discrimination, high prices, low wages, the privatization of healthcare services, and the authorities’ indifference.
A Common Demand Among Protesters; Bread, Justice, and Freedom
The common theme of Sunday’s protests was opposition to worsening living conditions, inflation, corruption, discrimination, and restrictions on civil liberties.
At many of the rallies, protesters repeatedly chanted, “Only in the streets can we win our rights,” emphasizing demands including higher wages, curbing inflation, job creation, rent controls, free education and healthcare, the right to protest and strike, the release of prisoners, combating corruption, and achieving social justice.
