Widespread protests have erupted across Iran in recent days, with demonstrations taking place in multiple cities over issues ranging from unpaid wages and economic grievances to environmental concerns and government policies. Healthcare workers, firefighters, students, and other groups have taken to the streets to demand justice, while reports of violent crackdowns and security incidents have further fueled unrest. In various regions, workers and professionals have decried delayed salaries, while citizens in polluted areas have called for urgent action. The situation highlights growing frustration among different social groups as authorities fail to address their concerns.
On February 1, in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province (northeast Iran), healthcare workers, including community health workers and medical staff, gathered in front of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences to protest unpaid wages and poor working conditions. Protesters carried banners demanding the immediate payment of overdue salaries and better conditions. Many expressed frustration over unfulfilled promises from officials, stating that months had passed without receiving their legal wages and benefits. A protester said, “We have followed up many times, but all we get are empty promises. With inflation and rising costs, we can no longer continue working without being paid.”
On January 30, in Tehran, Tehran Province (northcentral Iran), reports emerged of an armed attack on Police Station 157 in the Masoudiyeh district. According to state-affiliated media, unknown assailants carried out the attack, leading to the death of at least one security officer. No further details about the assailants or potential motives have been released. In a systematic and coordinated manner, state media denied the attack, while some sources claimed that a drunk driver attempted to enter an army compound.
February 1—Mashhad, northeast Iran
Healthcare workers rally in front of the Medical Sciences University to protest unpaid and overdue wages.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/hItRi44C5X— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 1, 2025
On January 31, in Kermanshah, Kermanshah Province (western Iran), the General Directorate of Prisons issued a statement announcing that on the evening of January 30, nine juvenile detainees escaped from the Juvenile Correction and Rehabilitation Center by cutting through the prayer hall window bars and scaling the facility’s wall. The statement also reported that three of the escapees had been recaptured by security forces.
On January 29, in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province (northeast Iran), firefighters rallied in front of the governorate to protest unpaid wages and unfair salary policies. The protesters demanded that authorities address ongoing salary delays and establish a fair system for wage determination.
Meanwhile, in Tehran, a group of university applicants protested in front of the National Organization of Educational Testing, objecting to the timing of entrance exams. Demonstrators called for a reconsideration of the exam schedule, arguing that the timing created unnecessary stress and unfair disadvantages.
In Arak, Markazi Province (central Iran), residents gathered to protest severe air pollution in the city, chanting slogans such as “Arak, cry out for your right!” and “An incompetent official must resign!” Protesters called on the ministers of oil and energy to step down over environmental mismanagement, holding them responsible for the deteriorating air quality in the region.
PMOI Resistance Units in Zahedan condemn executions in Iran, reiterate their commitment to struggle for freedom.#PMOI #ResistanceUnits pic.twitter.com/njamJmYfo9
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 1, 2025
On January 28, in Delgan, Sistan and Baluchestan Province (southeast Iran), security forces fatally shot a 30-year-old Baluch fuel porter, Abol Bameri, at Delgan’s ring road intersection. Reports indicate that the police fired without prior warning, killing him instantly. Witnesses claim that authorities took his body away after the shooting. Video footage of the incident has circulated online, further fueling anger among locals.
On January 26, in Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan Province (southeast Iran), security forces raided the Shirabad neighborhood at dawn, demolishing several homes and displacing many families. Residents, including young children, were left homeless in the cold, watching as their homes were reduced to rubble. A local resident stated, “We built our house with loans and years of savings, but now it’s gone, and so are our neighbors’ homes.” Witnesses report that authorities provided no prior warning or opportunity for residents to defend their homes.
These acts of state violence and systemic oppression are likely to ignite further unrest and protests, as anger over state repression and injustice continues to build.
The recent wave of protests across Iran reflects deepening frustration with the government’s handling of economic issues, labor rights, environmental concerns, and social policies. While authorities have yet to offer substantial responses to the demands, demonstrations continue to spread, signaling an increasingly tense atmosphere in various regions of the country.