On November 15 and 16, 2025, a potent wave of protests swept across Iran, revealing a society pushed to its limits by the ruling regime’s incompetence, systemic corruption, and brutal repression. From retirees in major cities and oil workers in strategic industrial zones to oppressed minorities and ordinary citizens facing environmental collapse, the Iranian people are rising up with a unified voice. These are not isolated incidents but clear symptoms of a failed state and a testament to the people’s unyielding demand for fundamental change.
Retirees and Workers Condemn Systemic Looting
The economic despair fueled by the regime’s policies was on full display as retirees held coordinated demonstrations in multiple cities. In Tehran, Isfahan, Shush, Kermanshah, and Ahvaz, pensioners from the social security and steel industries took to the streets. Their chants cut through the regime’s propaganda, with a key slogan declaring, “Reformist, Principlist, you are the enemy of the pensioners!” This chant directly targets the entire ruling establishment, dismissing the false dichotomy between political factions. In Kermanshah, their banners read, “High prices and inflation are robbing the people’s pockets,” while in Shush they chanted, “We will not live under tyranny; we will sacrifice our lives for freedom.”
November 16—Isfahan, central Iran
Retirees of the steel and mining industry resume protests as their pensions fail to meet their most basic needs and regime authorities continue to ignore their plight.
"Reformists and hardliners are the enemy of retirees," protesters chant.… pic.twitter.com/BNzBf38kCe— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 16, 2025
Simultaneously, unrest shook the regime’s vital oil sector. On November 15, official and newly-hired workers at numerous South Pars refineries—including Refineries 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12—held massive rallies. Their core grievances included poverty-level wages, the illegal imposition of salary caps, and the systematic plunder of their pension fund, which they accuse the regime of attempting to merge with bankrupt state funds.
This theme of justice denied was echoed by victims of the “Ramak Khodro” automotive scam, who protested again after eight years of government inaction. Despite holding favorable court rulings, hundreds of families remain financially devastated. One protester stated, “We relied on a legal ruling, but for 8 years we’ve been left stranded. How long must justice be delayed?”
The Social and Environmental Front: A Regime Destroying Iran’s Future
In the capital, Tehran, the regime’s mismanagement has made daily life unbearable. On November 16, citizens gathered in Tajrish Square to protest the destruction of historic plane trees, a cherished symbol of the city. Holding signs that read, “Don’t kill Tehran’s trees,” they condemned the authorities’ decision to pave over the area, suffocating the trees’ roots. One resident lamented, “These trees are a sign of Tehran’s resilience… ignoring them means destroying the city’s soul.” The peaceful gathering was ultimately dispersed by police.
November 16—Tehran, Iran
Retirees of the Social Security Organization and teachers rallied outside the SSO HQ, denouncing inadequate pensions amid soaring inflation, structural adjustment fallout, toxic air, and mounting livelihood pressures.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/2AiBjsh7Jc— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 16, 2025
This blatant disregard for the environment is mirrored in a deepening public health crisis. Reports from November 15 detailed severe water shortages across Tehran, with cuts lasting up to 10 hours a day without any official explanation. On the same day, crippling air pollution sickened residents, forcing many to seek medical treatment for headaches, nausea, and heart palpitations. “This is the result of management that has pushed public health and quality of life to the lowest possible level,” said one citizen who had rushed his daughter to a clinic.
The Repression Front: Brute Force Against the People
The regime’s response to public discontent, particularly in ethnic minority regions, remains one of extreme violence. On November 15, in Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, military forces and municipal agents demolished at least 15 homes belonging to Baluchi citizens. The attack was carried out without any court order, giving families no time to even remove their belongings. Eyewitnesses reported that at least two residents were beaten during the four-hour raid, which left families homeless and destitute amidst the rubble.
November 15—Zahedan, southeast Iran
Security forces and municipal agents demolished at least 10 homes of impoverished Baluch families without any court order.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/jTQsIs8wLj— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 16, 2025
That same day, in Khoy, West Azerbaijan Province, two Kurdish brothers were shot and killed by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces. In a cruel display of power, authorities have since refused to return the victims’ bodies to their grieving families or provide any explanation for the killings, reinforcing a long-standing policy of lethal violence and total impunity in Iran’s Kurdish regions.
The events of the past 48 hours paint a clear and undeniable picture: the Iranian regime is at war with its own people on every front—economic, social, and political. The diversity of the protesters and the unity of their slogans show that the Iranian people hold the entire theocracy, led by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, responsible for the destruction of their country and their lives.