Bus Drivers’ Strike Creates Chaos Across Iran's Capital Amid Tensions

In a statement Saturday, the groups demanded the unconditional release of detainees from recent protests as well as all jailed ‘political’ and trade union activists.The signatories include United Republicans of Iran, formed by exiled leftists in 2004, the People's Fadaian, a formerly Communist group now proclaiming itself social democratic, the Social Democratic and Secular Republican Party of Iran, and the National Front, which claims descent from the 1950s nationalist leader Mohammad Mossadegh.

The groups expressed opposition to the government’s recent removal of a subsidized dollar rate for importing essential goods (including wheat, cooking oil and animal feed). The move which has led to jumps in food prices, reflect a tighter approach by the administration of President Ebrahim Raisi to Iran’s fiscal challenge following United States post-2018 ‘maximum pressure’ sanctions.

During the past few days, several cities in Iran have seen protests triggered by the sudden hike in food prices thatquickly turned into rallies with people chanting slogans against government leaders. The six opposition groups called the government’s decisions "irresponsible" in that they had led to “intensified pressure on society, especially on low-income, vulnerable wage earners."

The intelligence ministry has also summoned several journalists to demand explanations about their coverage, although the media has largely been silent about the protests that began on May 5.

Iran International has learned that on Sunday the intelligence ministry had convened a meeting with representatives of Government-controlled media to issue new restrictions. The authorities asked media managers to highlight a narrative that public property “is being destroyed by troublemakers and elements of foreign influence.”

Parallel with intimidating newspapers and websites, that are already under government control, authorities have disrupted internet access in at least 15 provinces. Security organs routinely slow down or shut off access during popular protests to prevent the people from sharing images and news in the absence of media coverage. Authorities are concerned about the outside world finding out details about protests and witness the use of force by security forces. They also do not want different regions of the country to find out about protests elsewhere.

Along with control of traditional and social media, the government has been jamming Persian-language television stations beaming news and programs into the country. The Voice of America, Iran International, Radio Farda, Manoto TV and BBC Persian are closely followed in Iran, where most households have satellite receivers to watch these stations.

Iran has developed technology to jam the satellite signal close to the ground with special mobile jammers that move into areas where the government does not want people to get independent news and information. In recent days, the government is focusing its jamming in areas where there are protests.

The intelligence ministry’s new restrictions do not just apply to the coverage of protests but also more broadly to the issue of economic policies that triggered the ongoing protests.

The government of President Ebrahim Raisi announced in early May that it would end special food import subsidies in place since 2018, when the United States pulled out of the nuclear agreement known as JCPOA and imposed serious economic sanctions.

Immediately following the announcement food prices jumped, with some items doubling or tripling in a matter of hours. The shock came as the income of ordinary Iranians has lost most of its purchasing power after four years of 30-40 percent inflation and a steep loss in the value of the national currency.

On Saturday, Iran International had reported that the government told the media not to use certain words and terminology when reporting on protests. These included words such as "economic surgery", "violent confrontation", "clashing with people" and "sit-in", threatening media outlets with judicial penalties.

“Economic surgery” is a term used by many government officials, including first deputy prime minister Mohammad Mokhber, to refer to the elimination of food import subsidies. Later, an unnamed security official denied that such a directive was issued.

US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a tweet on Sunday, “We support their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression online and offline -- without fear of violence and reprisal”. “Brave Iranian protestors are standing up for their rights”.

This is the first official reaction by the Biden Administration to the ongoing protests in several Iranian cities, triggered by a sudden hike in food prices. But the unrest has quickly turned into anti-Islamic Republic protests with people chanting slogans against top government leaders.

Sunday night, people were heard chanting “Death to Raisi”, “Death to Khamenei”, as some gunshots were heard in Shahre Kord, the center of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinc. Some reports said that security forces directly fired at demonstrators. So far, five deaths have been reported in more than a week of protests. Security forces also use batons and tear gas against protesters.

Many citizens have also been detained but there is no total number reported by reliable sources. Many younger people are among the detainees and some reports speak of security forces arresting whole families if some members were identified during protests.

The protest took place in Shahre Kord, the center of Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari province 120 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Esfahan in central Iran. In recent days, Shahre Kord has witnessed nighttime protests against the government.

Saturday night protests had taken place in numerous small towns and cities across the country, triggered by a sudden hike in food prices. But the unrest quickly turned into anti-Islamic Republic protests with people chanting slogans against top government leaders.

Sunday night, people were heard chanting “Death to Raisi”, “Death to Khamenei”, as some gunshots were heard in Shahre Kord. Some reports said that security forces directly fired at demonstrators. So far, five deaths have been reported in more than a week of protests. Security forces also use batons and tear gas against protesters.

In some towns, IRGC Basij centers have been abandoned after citizens attacked and tried to occupy them. In one town the religious schools was also abandoned as it was a target of anti-government protesters.

Many citizens have also been detained by there is no total number reported by reliable sources. Many younger people are among the detainees and some reports speak of security forces arresting whole families if some members were identified during protests.

The government of President Ebrahim Raisi decided to stop an import subsidy for essential food imports, such as wheat, cooking oil and also animal feed. The subsidy had been set up in April 2018 just before former US president Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear agreement and imposed tough economic sanctions.

The government had said subsidizing the food imports was costing $8-10 billion annually but more recent estimates have put the number between $15-20 billion.

As soon as the government confirmed the end of the subsidy food prices jumped two to threefold and certain items such as cooking oil disappeared from supermarkets. The move by the government came at a time when an economic crisis triggered by US sanctions was getting worse, despite official claims of higher oil exports.

Authorities have reacted to the protests by dispatching security forces from the capital Tehran to smaller cities that have been the centers of unrest. They have also cut off mobile internet access in many areas to prevent people from sharing videos and news of the protests. Shahre Kord is no exception with mobile internet disrupted on Sunday.

Reports by citizens in Iran also say that authorities jammed signal of satellite television channels beaming news from outside the country, such as the Voice of America, Iran International TV and other stations.

Iranian government-controlled media is mostly silent about the protests, but Iran International received information on Saturday that censors ordered newspapers and websites to refrain from using certain words like “confrontation” in their reporting. Security forces gathered in some areas of the capital to quickly react to any signs of protests.

Protests were also reported in a town near Shahre Kord on Sunday and there was a video of people burning tires on a highway in the southern parts of Tehran.

Food prices that doubled and tripled in recent days triggered the unrest that have turned into fierce anti-government protests in many parts of the country.

Most of the explanations target the previous government or President Ebrahim Raisi's lack of an economic policy. But in a different analysis to explain the crisis that has brought thousands into the streets, the deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) Yadollah Javani lashed out at government's critics, saying that some people are gradually blaming Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for the economic problems, because he does not allow negotiations with the United States.

This is the first time an official of Javani's calibre acknowledges the debate about Khamenei's responsibility for the diplomatic deadlock, which has led to the country's biggest economic problems in modern history.

However, during the past weeks Javani happened to lose a lot of his credibility after he was implicated in an alleged espionage or infiltration case involving a foreign woman who had penetrated Khamenei's inner circle and even posted two dozen articles on his official website. Therefore, his comments will be likely taken as an attempt to appease Khamenei to redeem his trust.

Better Diplomacy

Over the weekend, Hassan Khomeini, a grandson of Rouhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic criticized the Raisi administration for failing to tackle the diplomatic impasse that has been preventing an economic breakthrough since the 2018 US pull-out from JCPOA, the nuclear deal with Iran.

The young Khomeini, an aspiring political figure who has often been criticized for wasting trillions of rials on developing a large complex housing his grandfather's tomb, said a good team of diplomats should have been able to solve the problem with the United States or at least open a new path “within 24 hours.”

Lack of trust

Former communication minister and presidential election hopeful Mohammad Gharazi said the root-cause of the unrest is that Iranians do not trust the government. Gharazi added that President Ebrahim Raisi knows better than everyone else that Iran's economic problems have worsened since he took office in August 2021.

Gharazi argued that the Raisi administration has not been able to convince the Iranian society that he is doing the right thing to help them.

Raisi, who recently stopped an annual $15-20 billion food import subsidy, argues that he is reforming the economy to prevent corruption, and there will be no gain without pain.

Nonetheless, some of Raisi's supporters such as conservative lawmaker Reza Taghipour, a former aide of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad keep blaming former President Hassan Rouhani for country's current problems without mentioning why the new government has not been able to fix the problems after 10 months.

Famine on the way

In another development, reformist politician Mohammad Ali Abtahi criticized state-owned media for justifying the Raisi administration's failure, saying that "It is wrong to pretend that the entire Iranian society is happy about the way the administration has manipulated the subsidy system." Abtahi said that state-owned media's approach during the past week has been provocative.

During the week, the state-owned television and Khamemnei-affiliated Kayhan newspaper have been supporting Raisi's policy and not only ignoring, but also attacking and belittling the protests.

In the meantime, conservative political analyst Mehdi Ayati said in an interview with Nameh News, close to former Intelligence Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi that "a famine will be on its way in Iran if food rationing does not start as soon as possible."