Protests erupted across Iran on September 23 as citizens from various cities took to the streets to voice their grievances over economic mismanagement, corruption, and the government’s failure to address basic living conditions. These protests, largely led by workers, retirees, and underpaid employees, reflect the growing discontent in a country facing widespread economic instability.
In Tehran, electric taxi drivers organized a protest in front of the city council, demanding unpaid subsidies and criticizing the poor management of municipal policies that directly impact their livelihoods. Separately, employees of the TCI also held a rally in the capital, demanding delayed wages and calling out the government’s neglect in addressing their ongoing financial struggles. This marks another wave of protests in the city as workers continue to demand their rightful earnings.
In Tabriz, northwest Iran, employees of the Telecommunications Company of Iran (TCI), alongside retirees of the same company, rallied to demand overdue wages and better working conditions. The regime has thus far failed to address their grievances, further stoking frustrations among the workforce. This marks the second consecutive day of protests in Tabriz, where telecommunications workers remain steadfast in their demands for economic justice.
Other cities across the country, including Ahvaz, where retirees of the telecommunications industry staged their own protest, echoed similar demands for economic justice.
September 23—Kermanshah, western Iran
Retirees and pensioners of the Telecommunications Company of Iran rally to protest low pensions and poor living conditions. #IranProtestspic.twitter.com/Fxwk9JKBYF— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 23, 2024
In Kermanshah, western Iran, retirees and pensioners of TCI staged protests, decrying the inadequacy of their pensions and worsening living conditions. The low pension payments, coupled with rising inflation, have rendered many retirees incapable of meeting their basic needs, leading to widespread unrest.
In Ilam, western Iran, customers of the state-run Maskan-e Melli housing company gathered outside the provincial governorate to protest corruption and the embezzlement of their down payments. Protesters accused the company of failing to deliver on promised housing projects, leaving many without homes despite having paid large sums of money upfront.
In Mahshahr, southwest Iran, workers of the Mahshahr Petrochemical company continued their protests over poor working conditions and delayed payments. The unrest in this industrial hub signals deeper discontent among the labor force, particularly in regions that play a critical role in Iran’s economy.
September 23—Tehran, Iran
Electric taxi drivers rally in front of the city council to protest unpaid subsidies, poor management and unfair policies by the municipality. #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/pWFv8ukmk9— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 23, 2024
In Alborz Sharqi, northeast Iran, 400 coal miners from the Tazreh coal mine staged a protest regarding their early retirement demands. Despite ongoing protests, their requests have yet to be addressed by the government. The workers initially began their demonstration yesterday and continued today, further highlighting the regime’s failure to meet the needs of its workforce.
In addition to the widespread protests reported across various cities in Iran, September 23 saw demonstrations from workers in the oil and gas sectors in regions such as Asaluyeh, Kangan, Bushehr, Lavan, Siri, and offshore platforms. These workers rallied against issues like unpaid wages, salary caps, and the withholding of incentives. Protesters in Asaluyeh, employed by Pars Oil and Gas Company, carried banners calling for fair wages and transparent contracts.
In Bushehr’s Jam Gas Refinery, workers demanded the removal of illegal salary deductions and the enforcement of employment contracts. Offshore platform workers in the Persian Gulf also joined the demonstrations, decrying the regime’s unjust salary structure and lack of compensation for operational hazards. The oil workers’ protests, including those in Lavan, were part of a larger series of labor demonstrations across Iran’s vital industries, highlighting the regime’s failure to address ongoing economic grievances.
September 23—Tehran, Iran
Employees of the Telecommunications Company of Iran rally to protest delayed and unpaid wages. #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/Qcjbkj0sji— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 23, 2024
The protests on September 23 signal an increasingly volatile situation in Iran as various groups, from workers to pensioners, confront the government’s economic policies and mismanagement. The regime’s failure to adequately address the root causes of these protests—ranging from delayed wages to corruption—will lead to further unrest in the coming days.
