Today, August 3, Iran witnessed a wave of protests across multiple cities, as citizens rallied against various economic and social grievances. Today, significant demonstrations were reported in Tehran, Kahnuj, Isfahan, and Asaluyeh, highlighting the growing discontent among different segments of the population.
In Tehran, customers of the state-backed Modiran Vehicle Manufacturing Company gathered in front of the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Trade. They are protesting against what they claim to be unjust and illegal price increases imposed by the company. The rally signifies mounting frustration with economic policies perceived to be unfair by the general public.
In southern Iran’s Kahnuj, dismissed workers from a titanium mining company held a protest rally outside the company’s headquarters. This demonstration underscores the plight of workers facing job insecurity and the lack of support for those laid off in an already struggling economy.
August 3—Asaluyeh, southern Iran
Protest rally by official employees of Pars Oil and Gas Company (Asaluyeh region) who demand changes to retirement rules, removing the salary ceiling, and other needs.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/uSAt8sqsHo— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 3, 2024
Central Iran’s Isfahan province saw multiple protests. Farmers from Ziyar are preparing their tractors to join a province-wide protest against water shortages and the government’s inadequate response to their agricultural needs. Additionally, urban truck drivers in Isfahan have gone on strike, protesting against low fuel rations which have severely impacted their livelihoods. In another part of Isfahan, traders from the stock hall have shut down their terminals and left the facility, protesting the ongoing poor conditions in the stock market.
In Asaluyeh, southern Iran, official employees of the Pars Oil and Gas Company organized a protest rally. They are demanding changes to retirement rules, the removal of the salary ceiling, and other critical needs, reflecting broader concerns about workers’ rights and economic conditions in the energy sector.
August 2—Arak, central Iran
Protest rally by workers of the state-owned Wagon Pars train and locomotive manufacturer.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/g2I2vTcrn6— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 2, 2024
Adding to the nation’s woes, a tragic incident has emerged from Chavar, Ilam Province. According to the ILNA news agency, a 38-year-old dismissed petrochemical worker, Seyed Reza Esmaeili, attempted suicide due to severe economic distress following his unemployment. Esmaeili, who is currently in a coma in the intensive care unit at Razi Hospital in Ilam, had three young children and was struggling to cope with the financial pressures after being laid off by his employer, Arghavan Gostar Petrochemical Company. This incident marks the fourth reported suicide in Chavar within two weeks, highlighting a critical mental health crisis spurred by economic hardship.
These widespread protests and the tragic incidents of self-harm illustrate a growing discontent among various sectors of Iranian society, driven by economic struggles, job insecurity, and inadequate government response to their needs.
August 3—Tehran, Iran
Customers of state-backed Modiran Vehicle Manufacturing Company rally in front of the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Trade in Tehran, protesting unjust and illegal price increases by the company. #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/v7mFQXN1z9— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 3, 2024
On August 2, residents of Bagh-Borj village and the Kuhshahi nomads formed a human chain to protect the forest resources of the Soghan district in Arzuiyeh County, Kerman Province. They protested against the destruction of forests and juniper trees by a mining company operating in the area, demanding an end to environmental degradation and the implementation of a forest restoration plan.
According to reports from Mashhad, Northeast Iran, clashes broke out between female inmates and the regime’s suppressive forces at Vakilabad Women’s Prison in Mashhad. On Tuesday and Wednesday, July 30 and 31, female prisoners confronted and fought back against suppressive female guards who had entered the ward to harass and apply pressure on them. In their anger, the inmates destroyed surveillance cameras and shattered all the glass in the ward.
In response, prison authorities transferred several inmates from the general ward to various sections, including the psychiatric unit.