Protests in Iran, initially sparked by the rising cost of living and a severe economic crisis, have turned violent, resulting in at least six fatalities following clashes with security forces.
According to Qatar-based Al Jazeera, the semi-official news agency Fars reported that at least three people were killed and 17 others were injured in protests in the city of Azna, located in Lorestan province, approximately 300 kilometers southwest of Tehran.
Videos circulating online showed scenes of street fires, the sound of gunfire, and protesters chanting slogans such as “No shame, no shame!” as tensions escalated.
Earlier, Fars had reported that two people were killed in protests in Lordegan, a city in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, located about 470 kilometers south of Tehran. The protests in Lordegan saw demonstrators throwing stones at government buildings, including the governor’s office, a mosque, the Martyrs Foundation, the town hall, and several banks. In response, police deployed tear gas in an attempt to control the situation.
In another video, protesters were seen gathering on the streets, with gunfire heard in the background.
On Thursday, Iranian state television reported that a security force member was killed during protests in the western city of Kuhdasht, Lorestan province. The state TV channel quoted Saeed Pourali, deputy governor of Lorestan, stating that a 21-year-old Basij member, part of a volunteer force affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed while maintaining public order and confronting rioters.
The protests, which began last Sunday, were sparked by anger over the plummeting value of the national currency and rapid inflation, with shopkeepers and citizens taking to the streets to voice their frustration with the government’s economic policies.
Source: Al Jazeera