On Monday, October 14, 2024, retirees from Iran’s telecommunications sector held protests in multiple cities across the country, including Tehran, Ahvaz, Isfahan, Ilam, Borujerd, Tabriz, Khorramabad, Rasht, Sanandaj, Shiraz, Kermanshah, Marivan, Hamedan, and Ardabil. These demonstrations reflect widespread frustration with the government’s failure to address their longstanding demands for fair pensions, better healthcare, and improved living conditions amid skyrocketing inflation. The protests primarily targeted government entities and shareholders of the telecommunications company for neglecting the rights of retirees.
In Tehran, Tehran Province, retirees gathered outside the Telecommunications Company headquarters. Protesters chanted slogans such as “One less embezzlement, and our problem is solved” and “Our livelihood and groceries are our absolute right,” expressing anger over corruption and the government’s inaction. They carried banners that read, “The company has been torn apart, all they do is plunder,” and also criticized the presence of military figures in key leadership positions with slogans like “We don’t want a military director.”
In Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, telecommunications retirees marched and called out the major shareholders of the company, such as the “Setad Ejraei” and the “Cooperative Foundation of the IRGC.” The demonstrators, carrying signs reading “Shareholders, have some shame, leave telecommunications alone,” demanded their rights and rejected any form of charity or superficial promises. Their chants highlighted their need for concrete solutions to their pension woes.
October 14—Rasht, northern Iran
Contract workers of the telecommunications company continue protests as authorities refrain from addressing their demands.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/8eA5NirStm— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 14, 2024
In Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, protesters gathered in front of the central telecommunications office, chanting “Implementation of the regulations is our absolute right.” They called for the enforcement of pension laws that have been neglected for years. Sanandaj has been a focal point of ongoing protests, with retirees demanding their just and undeniable rights, as their pensions fail to cover basic living expenses.
In Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, telecommunications retirees held banners denouncing government neglect and called for their rights to be honored. They echoed the national frustration with telecommunications shareholders, chanting “Shareholders, have some shame, leave telecommunications alone,” and expressed the same grievances heard in protests across the country.
In Ilam, Ilam Province, retirees similarly emphasized the need for the government to implement long-promised reforms. They chanted, “Implementation of the regulations is our absolute right,” pointing to the 2009 pension regulations that have yet to be fully enforced, despite continuous protests and promises from the government.
October 14—Asaluyeh and Kangan, southern Iran
Protest rally by employees of Pars Oil and Gas Company, protesting unpaid wages, unfair contracts, and poor working conditions.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/U2Lcn6u2Wk— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 14, 2024
In Kermanshah, Kermanshah Province, the retirees highlighted the devastating impact of inflation on their lives with chants like, “A retiree’s pay lasts only for a week.” Protesters also demanded adequate healthcare and the removal of military leaders from civilian management roles, particularly in the telecommunications sector.
In Rasht, Gilan Province, demonstrators carried signs demanding the immediate enforcement of pension laws. Their slogans, including “Retiree, shout for your rights!” and “Implementation of the regulations is our absolute right,” underscored the ongoing struggle for justice and dignity in their retirement years.
In Shiraz, Fars Province, protesters continued the national outcry for fair pensions and denounced the shareholders of the telecommunications company, holding them accountable for failing to honor their obligations to retirees.
October 14—Tabriz, northwest Iran
Retired government employees and pensioners of the Social Security Organization and telecommunications industry hold protest rally, demanding higher pensions. #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/UZAD6A5cpa— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 14, 2024
The protests were not limited to these cities. Gatherings also took place in Borujerd, Lorestan Province, Khorramabad, Lorestan Province, Marivan, Kurdistan Province, Hamedan, Hamedan Province, Isfahan, Isfahan Province, and Ardabil, Ardabil Province, reflecting the broad scale of discontent across the nation. These protests all had the same core demands: immediate adjustments to pensions to reflect the cost of living, proper implementation of pension laws, and the removal of corrupt and military-linked leadership from key civilian roles.
Retirees across Iran have consistently protested over the past year, demanding their just and undeniable rights to pensions that keep up with inflation, affordable healthcare, and financial stability. Despite government promises, the situation has worsened, leaving many retirees unable to meet their basic needs. These protests are a clear call for significant changes and immediate government action to resolve the economic crisis impacting retirees and other vulnerable groups.