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Iran: Protesters Chant Anti-Regime Slogans on the Anniversary of the 1979 Revolution

Jubin Katiraie
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Iran: Protesters Chant Anti-Regime Slogans on the Anniversary of the 1979 Revolution

Following public protests in Dehdasht, the intelligence forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province arrested several protesting citizens on the evening of Tuesday, February 11.

The ongoing public protests in the capital of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province coincide with the anniversary of the 1979 revolution, at a time when the government is struggling with a crisis in providing for citizens’ livelihoods. Meanwhile, government offices and educational institutions in many provinces have been closed under the pretext of “cold weather” and officials’ inability to supply energy.

According to reports on social media over the past four days, coinciding with the anniversary of the Iranian revolution, protests against the Iranian regime have been ongoing in Dehdasht. Groups of citizens have chanted slogans such as “This year is the year of blood, Seyed Ali [Khamenei] will be overthrown,” “Death to the Islamic Republic,” and “Death to the dictator.”

In some citizen-recorded video reports from the protests in Dehdasht, protesters can be seen setting fires, and the sound of gunfire can also be heard.

According to the Hengaw website on Wednesday, February 12, IRGC intelligence agents arrested five citizens and took them to an unknown location.

A Number of Arrested Protesters in Dehdasht

According to this report, four other citizens, including one woman and three men, have also been arrested, but their identities are still unknown.

Additionally, it is unclear where the detainees are being held or what charges have been brought against them.

Public protests on the anniversary of the revolution have also taken place in other parts of Iran.

For instance, citizen reports indicate that anti-regime slogans have been chanted in various areas of Tehran. In the Narmak neighborhood, a group of citizens chanted “Death to Khamenei.”

Iran: The “No to Executions Tuesdays” Campaign Warns of Possible Death Sentences for “Ekbatan” Case Defendants

Slogans against Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the regime, were also chanted in Ekbatan residential complex.

The resurgence of protests in various parts of Iran comes as regime officials have recently warned about the decline in public trust and the erosion of the government’s social capital.

 

Iranian Regime Arrests Two British Citizens on “Security” Charges

Sia Rajabi
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Iranian Regime Arrests Two British Citizens on “Security” Charges

Iranian state media reported that regime officials have arrested two British citizens accused of security-related crimes.

The regime’s official news agency, IRNA, announced on the evening of Wednesday, February 12, that the two British citizens are being held in a prison in Kerman Province, without disclosing their identities, the exact charges against them, or the circumstances of their arrest.

London has not yet commented on the matter, but IRNA stated that Hugo Shorter, the British Ambassador to Iran, met with these “two British nationals accused of security offenses” at the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Kerman.

IRNA also published images of the meeting, with the faces of the man and woman—presumably the two detained British citizens—blurred and unidentifiable.

The report states that Mehdi Bakhshi, the Prosecutor of Kerman, and Rahman Jalali, the Deputy Governor for Security and Law Enforcement Affairs of Kerman, were also present at the meeting.

Several other European nationals are also currently imprisoned in Iran. In recent years, the Iranian regime has repeatedly exchanged these European detainees for prisoners it sought to secure from Western countries.

One of the most recent suspected prisoner exchanges occurred last month when Iranian authorities released Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist. Four days later, Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi was released in Italy and returned to Iran.

Abedini Najafabadi, who had been accused by the United States of transferring sensitive drone components to the IRGC, was arrested at Milan Airport in Italy on December 16, 2024. However, Iran’s judiciary later claimed that his detention was due to a “misunderstanding.”

Two years ago, Iran’s regime also executed Alireza Akbari, a dual Iranian-British citizen, an act that provoked outrage from Western governments. The UK condemned his execution as a “barbaric” act.

Alireza Akbari was a former deputy defense minister of Iran. Iranian authorities accused him of “espionage” for British intelligence services and of being involved in the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a prominent figure in the Iranian regime’s nuclear program.

 

Iran’s Economy in Freefall: A Looming Hunger Crisis

Hoshang Amiri
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Iran’s Economy in Freefall: A Looming Hunger Crisis

Iran’s economy, long plagued by structural inflation, is now facing an alarming crisis as food price inflation outpaces general inflation. This phenomenon has had severe repercussions for low- and middle-income households, pushing the country to the brink of widespread hunger.

According to official data from the Iranian Statistical Center, point-to-point inflation in January 2025 reached 31.8%. However, beyond this concerning figure lies the stark reality of skyrocketing prices of essential goods, which have exacerbated economic disparities and placed millions of Iranians in a precarious situation.

The Poverty Line in Iran: A Worsening Situation

Food Inflation Surpassing General Inflation

A closer look at the statistics reveals that monthly food inflation in January has exceeded general inflation, intensifying financial pressures on ordinary citizens. The accelerated rise in food prices has dramatically weakened the purchasing power of lower-income groups, making even basic sustenance increasingly unaffordable.

The disproportionate impact on low-income households is particularly alarming. Given that food expenses constitute a significant portion of their total expenditures, soaring food prices directly erode their financial stability, increasing the likelihood of a full-scale hunger crisis.

Urban-Rural Inflation Gap: A Hidden Crisis

Comparative inflation data between urban and rural areas shows that annual inflation in urban areas reached 32.4%, while in rural regions, it stood at 29.5%. At first glance, this suggests that urban dwellers face higher inflationary pressures. However, the reality is far more complex.

Rural communities, often lacking access to government support and alternative income sources, are struggling to secure basic necessities. Rising transportation costs, shortages of essential goods in remote areas, and declining purchasing power among farmers have severely worsened living conditions in the countryside.

Soaring Prices of Essential Goods

One of the most striking indicators of Iran’s deepening economic crisis is the unprecedented rise in food prices. Official data from the Iranian Statistical Center shows that in January 2025, 25% of food items saw price hikes of over 50% compared to the previous year.

For instance, potatoes—one of Iran’s staple foods—saw a staggering 103% price increase compared to January 2024, marking the highest recorded price jump among essential items. Other key staples, including rice, meat, dairy products, and cooking oil, have also experienced dramatic price surges, making basic nutrition increasingly unaffordable for millions of Iranians.

Food Inflation and Foreign Exchange Crisis

One of the key drivers of rising food prices in Iran is the government’s mismanagement of foreign currency reserves. The regime’s economic priorities—such as funding military operations, domestic repression, and weapons development—have left limited resources for securing essential imports.

Additionally, the government’s plan to phase out preferential exchange rates for importing essential goods has heightened concerns about further food price inflation. Should these policies be implemented, basic food items will become even more expensive, placing an unbearable financial burden on low-income families.

Ineffective Government Policies and Worsening Living Standards

In an attempt to curb food inflation, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s government introduced an electronic food voucher system. However, budgetary allocations for this program have drastically declined. While 420 trillion rials (approximately 442.1 million usd) were allocated to the program in 2023, the 2025 budget has reduced this figure to just 150 trillion rials (approximately 157.89 million usd). Furthermore, the number of beneficiaries has been slashed from 60 million to 30 million people, significantly limiting the program’s reach.

Meanwhile, official data from Iran’s parliamentary research center shows that between 2022 and 2023, the average daily caloric intake per person in Iran fell below 2,100 calories—a globally recognized benchmark for extreme poverty. This means that a significant portion of Iran’s population can no longer afford the bare minimum required for sustenance.

Workers and Low-Income Families Face an Uncertain Future

January’s inflation figures come at a critical time when wage negotiations for Iranian workers are underway. However, the gap between minimum wages and the cost of living remains staggering. Current estimates suggest that the minimum cost of living for a working-class family is 299.4 million rials (approximately 316 USD) per month, while the actual minimum wage stands at just 111 million rials (approximately 116 USD)—covering a mere 37% of basic living expenses.

An Economy in Freefall: Impending Social Unrest

Iran’s unchecked food inflation, combined with ineffective economic policies and dwindling purchasing power, has led to a dire humanitarian situation. The decline in food consumption, increasing poverty rates, and failed government assistance programs paint a bleak picture of the country’s economic trajectory.

Widespread protests by workers, pensioners, and impoverished citizens in recent months signal growing discontent. As the economic crisis deepens, Iran’s rulers may soon face a social explosion that could threaten the very foundation of their rule.

 

The Teacher Shortage Crisis in Iran and the Decline in Student Performance

Staff Writer
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The Teacher Shortage Crisis in Iran and the Decline in Student Performance

Nader Karimi Beiranvand, Director General of Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education, stated that the “teacher shortage crisis” is one of the most serious challenges facing the education system and has a direct impact on the quality of education across the country.

According to the state-run ISNA news agency, Karimi said, “This issue is no longer limited to underprivileged areas, and even provinces such as Tehran are experiencing a severe teacher shortage.”

He noted that despite the hiring of new teachers in the past two years, the rising number of secondary school students has made the shortage even more noticeable, and addressing it remains one of the main challenges for the education system.

Thousands of Iranian Teachers Hold Protest Rally In Front of the Parliament

Karimi highlighted the impact of this crisis on students’ academic performance, explaining that in some schools, students do not have adequate access to qualified teachers, which has negatively affected their academic achievements.

He emphasized that the average final exam scores are “not at a desirable level,” and that educational issues, teacher shortages, and a lack of sufficient resources in some schools are “key factors contributing to academic decline.”

He also addressed the issue of school dropouts, stating that some students, due to not completing elementary or middle school, are unable to enter “the theoretical secondary education track,” which “ultimately leads to their exit from the education system.”

Another major challenge is educational inequality in public schools. Karimi stressed that some of these schools “lack the necessary managerial support and sufficient funding to improve their educational standards,” leading to a “quality gap between public and private schools.”

“Schools in underprivileged and suburban areas” continue to suffer from a “lack of resources and personnel.” According to Karimi Beiranvand, many of these schools are in urgent need of attention, yet they remain a “lower priority compared to other educational issues.”

The “educational space crisis” has also become evident in the capital. Previously, the state-run Tasnim news agency reported that education officials had emphasized the need for 695 schools with 15 classrooms each in the counties of Tehran province to prevent overcrowding in classrooms.

In a November 2024 report, Tasnim highlighted this issue, stating that some classrooms in Tehran accommodate 40 to 50 students, which has led to a decline in the quality of education.

The lack of financial resources for projects such as school safety improvements, school construction in underprivileged areas, and providing basic necessities such as drinking water and sanitation in many regions of Iran comes at a time when billions of dollars are annually spent by various Iranian regime institutions—from ministries to municipalities and local agencies—on ideological government objectives or financing terrorism.

 

The Poverty Line in Iran: A Worsening Situation

Esmaeil Mohades
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The Poverty Line in Iran: A Worsening Situation

According to estimates by economic and social experts, the relative poverty line in Iran has reached approximately 350 million rials (about $370) per month. This figure highlights the deep gap between the income of wage earners and the actual cost of living in the face of severe inflation. Currently, the minimum wage for a worker with two children is around 110 million rials (about $116).

Educational Poverty in Iran Exacerbated by Structural Problems

The Poverty Line Must Be Defined Before Setting Wages

Hamid Haj Esmaeili, a labor market expert, told the state-run Khabar Online that before making any decisions regarding the minimum wage, the government must first define the poverty line as a clear and reliable economic indicator. He stressed the need for the government and statistical institutions such as the Statistical Center of Iran and the Central Bank to have the courage to present a realistic definition of the poverty line, arguing that “without this step, negotiations on setting the minimum wage will be fruitless.”

The Official Inflation Rate Is Vastly Different from Economic Realities

Haj Esmaeili warns that if the current trend continues, the wages set by the government will in no way be sufficient to cover the cost of living for Iranian families. Furthermore, he argues that the official inflation rate reported by the government is an ineffective metric for calculating living expenses due to its significant discrepancy with the actual economic realities of society.


Esmaeili predicts that “next year, with rising inflation and increasing prices of essential goods, the economic pressure on the people will multiply.” This means that the poverty line will exceed 350 million rials. Currently, some government-affiliated economic experts estimate the poverty line to be around 400 million rials (approximately $422). Given the rising dollar exchange rate and the depreciation of the national currency, it is likely that the poverty line will surpass this amount.

While the Iranian regime seeks to cover up the economic crisis and widespread poverty, the Iranian people are becoming increasingly aware of the deep injustice and inequality imposed by the ruling establishment. The poverty line and the decline in purchasing power are clear indicators of the total failure of economic policies and the entrenched corruption within the regime’s structure.

Setting the minimum wage based on unrealistic statistics is merely an attempt to deceive public opinion and prevent uprisings and protests. Under these circumstances, there is no solution other than an uprising against this regime. This government is not only incapable of resolving the economic crisis but also relies on deepening poverty, expanding repression, and destroying people’s hope for the future to maintain its rule.

Fluctuations in Iran’s Financial Markets Trigger Protests

Hoshang Amiri
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Fluctuations in Iran’s Financial Markets Trigger Protests

Simultaneously with fluctuations in foreign exchange and gold prices in Iran and turbulence in financial markets, economic protests were also carried out by trade groups in various cities on Tuesday.

According to reports published on social media on Tuesday, February 11, workers in the oil and gas industries in Bushehr, steel industry workers in Gilan, and housing investors who suffered financial losses in Qazvin held protest gatherings.

Workers of the Fajr Jam Gas Refinery in Kangan, Bushehr province, gathered in the refinery courtyard, protesting their economic conditions and unfulfilled demands, chanting: “Enough with the promises, our tables are empty.”

Additionally, a group of applicants for the National Housing Plan gathered in front of the Qazvin governorate, chanting: “Protest and assembly are our absolute rights” and “Worker, shout, demand your rights.”

Workers of the Khazar Steel Smelting Plant in Gilan province also protested against unmet wage demands and ongoing uncertainty.

Meanwhile, reports from Iran’s financial markets indicate that on Tuesday, February 11, “93% of the stock market turned red,” and “the overall stock index dropped by 37,000 points, closing at 2,784,000 points.”

The continuous and sharp decline in the value of the Iranian rial against the US dollar and other foreign currencies, along with the rise in gold and coin prices, has also caused turmoil in Iran’s investment markets.

Meanwhile, a member of the Iranian regime’s parliament admitted that “mismanagement in market regulation” is the cause of rising prices.

The current situation is the result of the Iranian regime’s four decades of policies. The Iranian government prefers to export essential goods such as potatoes to obtain US dollars, as the state treasury is empty and the regime urgently needs money to fund its expansionist ambitions in the region.

 

Power Outages and Widespread Blackouts in Tehran

Esmaeil Mohades
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Power Outages and Widespread Blackouts in Tehran

Reports from Iranian domestic media and social networks indicate widespread blackouts in Tehran, with schools, banks, and government offices in several provinces, including Tehran, being closed on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Energy has cited “fuel shortages in power plants” as the reason for the widespread blackouts and has called on the public to conserve energy.

On Tuesday evening, February 11, the Tavanir electricity company issued a statement saying that due to cold weather, increased household gas consumption, and restrictions in gas supply and transmission to power plants, electricity has been cut off, and the country needs “cooperation from fellow citizens” to meet its power demand.

As of now, at least 14 provinces in the country have been shut down on Wednesday. The deputy governor of Tehran, in an interview with Iran’s regime state television, stated that various educational and administrative institutions in the capital would be closed to “manage energy consumption.”

Meanwhile, some reports indicate that, due to the power outages, not only have telecommunications towers been affected, but traffic lights have also stopped functioning, leading to severe congestion on some streets.

The implementation of widespread blackouts, even in the capital, due to fuel shortages, comes at a time when data from the commodities intelligence firm Kpler, obtained by Radio Farda, indicates that Iran is engaging in large-scale fuel exports.

The state-run ISNA news agency reports that blackouts have been implemented in eastern and western Tehran. However, the state-run Rouydad24 website indicates that large areas in the east, center, south, and west of Tehran experienced power outages on Tuesday evening until 8 PM.

Mansouri, the public relations manager of the Tehran Electricity Distribution Company, told Rouydad24 that the reason for the power cuts in various parts of the capital was a drop in gas pressure. However, at the same time, another official from the electricity distribution company, who requested anonymity, rejected the claim that the outages were due to low gas pressure.

Since the beginning of autumn, the Iranian regime has claimed that fuel reserves for power plants have declined and has implemented widespread blackouts across the country.

Surge in Mazut Consumption in Iran Amid Rising Exports of Clean Fuels

Data from Kpler indicates that Iran has significantly increased its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) exports in the autumn and winter of this year. It only reduced fuel oil (mazut) exports for one month in November (mid-autumn) before restoring them to previous levels in December.

In the autumn and early winter of this year, Iran exported approximately 300,000 barrels (26,000 tons) of LPG and more than 200,000 barrels of fuel oil per day.

Gas Consumption in 24 Hours Close to 75% of the Country’s Total Production

Data from Turkey’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority also shows a significant increase in the country’s gas purchases from Iran, especially after this summer. In the first 11 months of 2024, Iran increased its gas exports to Turkey by 40%, reaching 6.5 billion cubic meters.

Iran also exports gas to Iraq, but neither country publishes official data on the volume of gas delivered.

 

Iranian Pharmacists Association Warns of Collapse of Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

Hoshang Amiri
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Iranian Pharmacists Association Warns of Collapse of Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

The Iranian Pharmacists Association and the Medical Council of Iran, in separate letters addressed to senior officials of the Iranian regime, warned about the irreparable consequences of the “pharmacy liquidity crisis” and the “non-payment of insurance claims.” They called for urgent action to prevent “disruptions in the pharmaceutical supply chain.”

In a letter published by the Pharmacists Association, it was emphasized that the Social Security Organization and the Targeted Subsidy Organization have failed to pay pharmacies’ outstanding claims for months. This delay has placed significant financial strain on pharmacies and the entire pharmaceutical supply chain.

Iran’s Health Minister Claims Drug Price Hikes Due to Currency Fluctuations

In this letter, addressed to Ali Akbar Ahmadian, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, the Iranian Pharmacists Association stated that, according to Article 38 of the Law on Regulating Certain Government Financial Regulations, insurance organizations are required to pay 80% of the claims of contracted centers within 15 days and the remaining 20% within a maximum of three months.

However, the failure to implement this law has caused severe financial difficulties for pharmacies.

The letter also highlighted that private pharmacies alone are owed 718 trillion rials (approximately $755.79 million) by the Social Security Organization and 85 trillion rials (approximately $89.47 million) by the Targeted Subsidy Organization, with no response yet provided regarding the payment timeline for these claims.

Additionally, according to this letter, 35 trillion rials (approximately $36.84 million) allocated by the heads of government to the Ministry of Health has yet to be paid to private pharmacies.

The Iranian Pharmacists Association stressed in the letter that these delays have caused a severe liquidity shortage in pharmacies, an increase in bounced checks, and disruptions in financial relations between pharmaceutical companies.

As a result, many pharmaceutical companies have refused to supply medicine to indebted pharmacies, pushing the country’s pharmaceutical supply chain into a severe crisis.

In another report by the state-run Mehr News Agency, the head of the Iranian Medical Council, in a letter to Massoud Pezeshkian, highlighted the liquidity shortage in pharmacies and the rise in bounced checks, urging government officials to address the crisis immediately.

Mohammad Raeiszadeh, in this letter, stated that over 15,000 private pharmacies across the country have been owed 180 trillion rials (approximately $189.47 million) by the Targeted Subsidy Organization, 7,180 trillion rials (approximately $7.557 billion) by the Social Security Organization, and 10 trillion rials (approximately $10.5 million) by other insurance organizations for the past six months.

The letter emphasized that these payment delays have led to a severe liquidity crisis for procuring new medicines, the closure of pharmacy accounts, and ultimately, disruptions in public access to essential medications.

The head of the Medical Council clarified that insurance organizations have made the payment of pharmacy claims conditional on securing their own funding and, in some cases, collecting debts from employers and employees. This situation has placed pharmacies in dire economic conditions.

 

Growing Wave of Professor Migration Poses Serious Challenge To Iran’s Scientific Future

Mehdi Hosseini
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Growing Wave of Professor Migration Poses Serious Challenge To Iran’s Scientific Future

The migration of university professors, students, and elites from Iran has repeatedly drawn public attention in recent years. What is particularly noteworthy about this issue is that neither the government in general nor the country’s academic institutions, in particular, have taken any action to address it.

The exact number of professors who have migrated from Iran in recent years remains unclear, with conflicting statistics reported on the matter. However, based on available reports, it appears that a significant number of university faculty members have left the country in recent years due to various reasons, including economic, political, and social challenges.

Some reports indicate that approximately 2,700 university faculty members have left Iran over the past four years. However, other sources estimate this number to be either higher or lower. For instance, some reports suggest that around 1,700 faculty members migrated between 2018 and 2021.

Notably, Iran’s Minister of Science in the thirteenth administration has claimed that 25% of university professors have migrated in recent years. However, due to the ambiguity surrounding the exact time frame and the method of calculation, the accuracy of this statistic cannot be definitively verified.

Regardless of the precise number of migrating professors, what is certain is that this trend is on the rise and could, in the near future, inflict irreparable damage on the country’s higher education and research system.

It is worth noting that multiple factors contribute to the migration of university professors from Iran, including:

– Economic issues: such as low salaries and benefits, lack of adequate welfare facilities, and insufficient support for scientific research.

– Political and social issues: including restrictions on freedom of speech, gender and ethnic discrimination, and lack of job security.

– Cultural issues: such as the absence of an environment conducive to academic and cultural growth, lack of respect for the status of professors and intellectuals, and neglect of their professional concerns.

 

Since February 10 of Last Year, 1,021 Executions by Hanging in Iran

Sia Rajabi
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Since February 10 of Last Year, 1,021 Executions by Hanging in Iran

The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, in its 55th statement on Tuesday, February 11, warned that since February 10, 2024, more than 1,021 people have been executed by hanging.

Imprisoned members of this campaign in 35 prisons across the country expressed concern in the statement over the death sentence of Pejman Soltani, a Kurdish political prisoner who was arrested during the 2024 protests.

This political prisoner was sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Urmia Criminal Court in an “unfair trial” on charges of killing a “Basij officer.”

The statement also announced that the request for retrial of Pakhshan Azizi, a political prisoner whose death sentence has been upheld by the Supreme Court, has been denied, placing her at imminent risk of execution.

Amnesty International Urges Global Action to Stop Execution of Pakhshan Azizi

The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign warned in its statement that if Pakhshan Azizi is transferred from the general ward for execution, more serious actions will be taken to resist this inhumane act.

The campaign has also called on all people and human rights activists to stand against this execution by any means possible, stating that “this is a test for all of us, and we must not allow ourselves to witness mourning for another prisoner again.”

The statement further emphasized that several political prisoners in the women’s ward and Ward 8 of Evin Prison, who protested and chanted slogans against the death sentences and forced transfer of two political prisoners, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani, have been denied visitation rights.

Iran: Behrouz Ehsani Said; I Have Never Bargained Over My Life with Anyone

The “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign statement reiterated that members of this movement in 35 prisons across the country unanimously condemn all death sentences in Iran and will continue to resist and raise their voices against executions.

The statement also warned that the government uses executions as a tool to maintain its survival and suppress society, rather than to implement justice. For this reason, the campaign has called on international organizations, human rights groups, and the global community to take urgent action to stop these crimes.

According to the statement, in the 55th week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, prisoners in 35 prisons across the country will go on a hunger strike on Tuesday, February 12, 2025.

 

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