Iranians conflict with regime safety forces as protesters take to the streets over financial disaster
Iranians voiced growing anger at the country’s ruling regime on Monday as shopkeepers in Tehran closed their stores in protest against the nation’s economic crisis, with reports of clashes and tear gas being used to disperse demonstrators.
There was widespread disruption at the capital’s historic Grand Bazaar, with traders shutting their businesses amid soaring prices and a collapsing currency.
Furious crowds gathered to demonstrate over the plunging rial and worsening economic conditions.
Images showed traders spilling into the streets around the bazaar in what was described as a protest against ‘economic and livelihood pressures’.
A crowd of demonstrators could be seen occupying a major thoroughfare in central Tehran, known for its many shops. Another photograph appears to show tear gas being used to disperse protesters.
‘Minor physical clashes were reported… between some protesters and the security forces,’ Fars said, warning that such gatherings could lead to instability.
Iran‘s currency has continued its dramatic slide, hitting fresh lows on the unofficial market.
Iranians voiced growing anger at the country’s ruling regime on Monday as shopkeepers in Tehran closed their stores in protest against the nation’s deepening economic crisis
Local media reported widespread disruption at the capital’s historic Grand Bazaar, with traders shutting or partially shutting their businesses amid soaring prices and a collapsing currency
State news agency IRNA said that a number of shopkeepers and merchants had closed their stores, adding that crowds gathered to chant slogans against the plunging rial and worsening economic conditions
The US dollar was trading at around 1.42 million rials on Sunday – up sharply from about 820,000 rials a year ago – while the euro approached 1.7 million rials, according to price monitoring websites.
The renewed unrest underscores mounting public frustration as ordinary Iranians grapple with inflation, rising living costs and a prolonged economic downturn.
The rates eased somewhat on Monday, with the US dollar at around 1.39 million rials, and the euro at about 1.64 million rials.
AFP correspondents said some traders, particularly import-reliant electronics vendors, had temporarily halted sales or shifted their pricing online, enabling them to more easily make adjustments as the exchange rate fluctuates.
On Sunday, the ISNA news agency said a group of shopkeepers and mobile phone vendors at a main shopping centre in Tehran ‘protested against sharp fluctuations in the exchange rate and the damage caused to the mobile phone market’ by briefly shutting their shops.
On Monday, traders told ILNA that exchange rate volatility had made it difficult to set prices or finalise deals, with one protester quoted as saying they were selling items to cover their costs ‘but price swings prevent us from replacing our goods’.
The conservative-aligned Fars news agency warned the limited protest gatherings risked leading to instability.
Iran’s economy has been under pressure from high inflation and Western sanctions linked to its nuclear programme.
Western powers, along with Israel, accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies.
On Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered the budget for the next Persian year to the parliament, vowing to fight inflation and the high cost of living.
On Monday, Iranian Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said ‘anyone who engages in hoarding (foreign currency) is a criminal and must be dealt with firmly.’
