On November 12, protests erupted across multiple cities in Iran, with workers, students, farmers, and citizens uniting to demand economic relief, environmental justice, and accountability for the safety of students. Rallies spread from the energy hubs of Asaluyeh to the university campuses of Tehran, reflecting a wave of dissatisfaction with the regime’s policies and neglect of basic citizen needs.
In Tehran, the capital of Iran, students at Khajeh Nasir Toosi University gathered to protest the suspicious death of Amir Mehdi Cheghini, a freshman chemistry student who reportedly suffered a fatal fall from the fourth floor of his dormitory. Student groups criticized the delay in emergency response and alleged neglect by the university administration, including locked doors that prevented ambulance access.
“This tragic death reflects gross negligence,” one student leader declared. Demonstrators have since called for a boycott of classes and are demanding accountability from university officials, including the head of campus security and the Minister of Science.
November 12—Tehran, Iran
Protest rally by students at Khajeh Nasir Toosi University following the suspicious death of a student at the campus.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/Mi5Cvz6Lz1— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 12, 2024
In Asaluyeh, Bushehr Province, southern Iran, local residents in Bidkhun held a rally protesting the construction of a sewage facility near their town. The facility, they argue, poses serious health risks and pollution concerns for the community. “This facility will only degrade our health and quality of life,” a demonstrator said, underscoring the community’s fears of increased pollution and reduced safety near their homes.
In Najaf Abad, Isfahan Province, central Iran, students, farmers, and merchants held a joint rally to highlight environmental issues, including severe drought and escalating air pollution. Protesters condemned the government’s lack of action on water scarcity and the impact of pollution on their health and livelihoods. “Our farms are drying up, and the air is toxic,” lamented a local farmer, voicing the frustration shared by both the agricultural and business communities in the region.
November 12—Iran
Contract workers of South Pars Gas Company hold resume rallies to protest wages and poor working conditions and lack of response by authorities.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/40dYO1uHVn— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 12, 2024
In the industrial sector, contract workers at the South Pars Gas Company in Bushehr Province resumed their protests over low wages, hazardous working conditions, and the government’s consistent failure to address their grievances. This follows months of calls from workers across Iran for improved labor standards and timely wage payments. South Pars workers, critical to Iran’s energy sector, have become increasingly vocal in recent weeks, demanding that authorities meet their needs and provide a safe working environment.
The current protests underscore a deepening divide in Iran, as people from diverse backgrounds and regions demand accountability, safety, and basic economic protections. The lack of response from Iranian authorities to these widespread grievances has led to heightened tensions, with more demonstrations expected in the coming weeks as public dissatisfaction continues to grow.
November 12—Asaluyeh, southern Iran
The people of Bidkhun rally to protest the building of a sewage facility next to their town causing pollution and health hazards for them.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/B5WeCwlmmD— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 12, 2024
