{"id":332569,"date":"2025-06-05T20:37:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T19:37:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=332569"},"modified":"2025-06-05T20:41:40","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T19:41:40","slug":"no-light-no-water-no-future-a-look-at-popular-protests-in-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-protests\/no-light-no-water-no-future-a-look-at-popular-protests-in-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cNo Light, No Water, No Future\u201d: A Look at Popular Protests in Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

In recent years, Iran has witnessed a relentless surge of protests across cities, towns, and rural regions, sparked by the basic demands for water, electricity, bread, and dignity. \u201cNo Light, No Water, No Future\u201d<\/em> is a timely and compelling report by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) that delves into the heart of these social uprisings.<\/p>\n

As highlighted by Mr. Mohammad Mohaddessin, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of NCRI, the report sheds light on the courageous actions of Iranian citizens from all walks of life\u2014truck drivers, bakers, retirees, and workers\u2014who are rising up against chronic injustice, government mismanagement, and crushing economic hardship. These protests, though rooted in daily grievances, reflect a deeper, more powerful demand: a call for fundamental freedoms and democratic change.<\/p>\n

The report also highlights the role of the Resistance Units, a nationwide network of activists who, despite immense personal risk, continue to challenge the regime\u2019s repressive machinery and keep alive the hope of a free Iran. Their acts of defiance and their unwavering commitment to justice symbolize the resilience of a nation that refuses to be silenced.<\/p>\n

This booklet is not only a chronicle of unrest; it is a testimony to the strength of a people determined to reclaim their future. We invite readers around the world to engage with these stories, stand in solidarity, and help amplify the voices of those who fight for freedom in Iran.<\/p>\n

Foreword:<\/h2>\n

This report offers a focused look into the growing wave of social protests in Iran, shedding light on the voices and actions of various segments of society\u2014truck drivers, bakers, retirees, and other courageous citizens\u2014who are standing up against systemic injustice and economic hardship. Their collective struggle reflects a broader demand for fundamental rights in the face of repression.<\/p>\n

Beyond these social groups, the booklet also explores the activities of organized Resistance Units working to challenge the regime\u2019s authority and inspire change across the country. They are active in organizing anti-regime protests. Their efforts, often carried out under threat of severe punishment, speak to the deep-rooted resilience and determination of the Iranian people to put an end to the religious dictatorship. This report is intended to inform, amplify these voices, and foster solidarity with their cause.<\/p>\n

Mohammad Mohaddessin,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n

In the spring of 2025, Iran stands at a crossroads. From the crowded streets of Tehran to the sun-scorched villages of Sistan-Baluchestan, a wave of protests has emerged across all 31 provinces, uniting bakers, truck drivers, retirees, farmers, students, and workers in a shared cry for justice. Sparked by crippling power outages, acute water shortages, runaway inflation, and systemic corruption, these uprisings are not mere complaints about poor governance but a direct challenge to the legitimacy of the clerical regime.<\/p>\n

For over four decades, the mullahs have clung to power through repression, propaganda, and broken promises, but the Iranian people\u2014pushed to the edge by economic collapse, environmental ruin, and institutional decay\u2014have reached their limit. As long as the mullahs remain in power, these crises will fester, offering no hope for reform or progress. The protests, marked by extraordinary courage and unity, signal a nation on the brink of a transformative reckoning.<\/p>\n

Drawing on chronicles from January to May 2025, first-hand reports, protest slogans, and official confessions, this brief attempts to capture the depth of Iran’s turmoil. The voices of ordinary Iranians\u2014bakers dumping spoiled dough, truck drivers blocking roads, retirees demanding stolen pensions, and students rejecting humiliation\u2014resound with a unified call for dignity and change.<\/p>\n

The regime\u2019s response, a mix of denial, empty promises, escalating violence and the arrest of protesters, only deepens the divide between rulers and the people. As economic despair mounts and hope for reform fades, Iran\u2019s people are no longer pleading\u2014they are demanding a new future and fundamental changes.<\/p>\n

Summary Table: Major Protest Locations and Dates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
City\/Province<\/strong><\/td>\nDate(s)<\/strong><\/td>\nNature of Protest & Scale<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nationwide (155 cities in all 31 provinces<\/td>\n22 May to 2 June 2025 \u2013 The date of compilation of this report \u2013 Ongoing<\/td>\nTruck drivers\u2019 strike: Began in Bandar Abbas 19 May, rapidly expanded to 155 cities; paralyzed road transport, disrupted food\/fuel supply, caused deserted highways, triggered solidarity from retirees, farmers, bakers.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Tehran<\/td>\nJan\u2013May 2025<\/td>\nRetirees, bakers, truckers, students, blackouts, water cuts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mashhad<\/td>\n24 May 2025<\/td>\nBakers\u2019 protest (met with tear gas), retirees, truckers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shiraz<\/td>\n8 May 2025<\/td>\nBakers\u2019 protest, agricultural losses, water crisis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Qazvin<\/td>\n6 May 2025<\/td>\nBakers\u2019 protest, industrial losses<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nesim Shahr<\/td>\n22 May 2025<\/td>\nBakers\u2019 protest, water shortages<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Arak<\/td>\n13 May 2025<\/td>\nBakers\u2019 protest, industrial workers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kerman<\/td>\nMay 2025<\/td>\nBakers\u2019 protest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bandar Abbas<\/td>\n18 May 2025<\/td>\nStart of truck drivers\u2019 strike<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Isfahan<\/td>\nMay 2025<\/td>\nTruckers, farmers, water crisis (drying of Zayandehrood river)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sanandaj<\/td>\nMay 2025<\/td>\nTruckers, students, regime violence<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ahvaz<\/td>\nMay 2025<\/td>\nTruckers, retirees, industrial workers, water crisis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kermanshah<\/td>\nMay 2025<\/td>\nTruckers, retirees, regime violence<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bushehr<\/td>\n17 May 2025<\/td>\nWater crisis, protests over water prices<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chabahar<\/td>\n22 May 2025<\/td>\nWater crisis, women-led protests<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Khonj\/Kazeroon<\/td>\n23-24 May 2025<\/td>\nFarmers block roads, protest well shutdowns<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ilam, Sistan-Baluchestan<\/td>\nMay 2025<\/td>\nFarmers, water crisis, regime repression<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tabriz<\/td>\nMay 2025<\/td>\nStudent sit-ins, blackouts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zahedan<\/td>\nMay 2025<\/td>\nSanitation workers, executions, regime violence<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shahr-e Kord<\/td>\nMay 2025<\/td>\nWorkers, vendors, regime repression<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yazd<\/td>\nMay 2025<\/td>\nProtests<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Iran\u2019s Manufactured Poverty: How the Regime\u2019s Structure Fuels Economic Ruin<\/h2>\n

Iran, which has the world’s third-largest oil reserves and second-largest gas reserves, has been crippled by poverty. This crisis is not accidental, but the deliberate result of a regime that has imposed corruption, repression, and military intervention outside Iran on the Iranian economy within the framework of fundamentalist ideology. The 2025 protests, spanning all 31 provinces, reflect a nation rejecting a system engineered to perpetuate economic despair.<\/p>\n

Two pillars sustain Iran\u2019s economic ruin: systematic encroachment of state and public assets, dominated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Supreme Leader\u2019s networks, as well as lavish spending on repression, proxy wars, and nuclear ambitions. These are not flaws but foundational to the regime\u2019s survival, rendering reform impossible without its collapse.<\/p>\n

The IRGC\u2019s Economic Stranglehold<\/h2>\n

The IRGC and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei\u2019s conglomerates control more than half of Iran’s GDP., stifling legitimate businesses and funnelling wealth to a loyal elite. Entities like Setad Ejraiye Farmane Hazrate Emam (Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam), with assets worth over $95 billion per a 2013 Reuters investigation, dominate sectors ranging from telecommunications to oil, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, steel, cement, and construction. Private enterprises face extortion or forced sell-offs, crushed by regime-affiliated actors[1]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This is not the only example: other very large economic trusts such as the Khatam Base, the Mostazafan Foundation, the Martyr Foundation, and Astan Quds Razavi[2]<\/a> are all under the control of the Revolutionary Guards or Khamenei, dominating the Iranian economy.<\/p>\n

There are many other conglomerates that are heavily involved in all spheres of Iranian economy, most of which are controlled by the IRGC. A book, \u201cThe Rise of the Revolutionary Guards Financial Empire[3]<\/a>,\u201d published by the US Representative Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in March 2017, names these entities and when and how they gradually took control of every form of economic activity in Iran.<\/p>\n

In parallel with this accumulation of wealth, a structural corruption is taking place in Iran ensuring elite loyalty while plundering national wealth. Scandals like the $2.6 billion Bank Melli fraud in 2011 and the $2.7 billion embezzlement by IRGC-linked tycoon Babak Zanjani in 2016 expose the scale of theft. In 2023, Iran\u2019s judiciary reported 18,000 corruption cases, likely understating the true extent. Then there was the famous Debsh Tea embezzlement amounting to 3.7 billion dollars.[4]<\/a> As a Tehran retiree protested on 13 May 2025, \u201cThey\u2019ve stolen the oil fund and left us destitute!\u201d\u2014a cry echoing across Iran\u2019s darkened cities, where resources are diverted to IRGC-linked cryptocurrency mining, leaving communities without power.<\/p>\n

Corruption and Cryptocurrency: The IRGC\u2019s Role<\/h2>\n

At the heart of Iran’s crises lies systemic corruption, which has taken on new dimensions in recent years with the mining of digital currencies linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). A 2019 report by the regime\u2019s Strategic Research Institute noted that each Bitcoin consumes 2,150 kilowatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to 20 barrels of oil. With Bitcoin prices at $100,000 in 2025, these operations\u201495% of which are unlicensed, according to Borna News<\/em> in January 2025\u2014have drained megawatts from the grid, plunging cities like Yazd, Kerman, and Khuzestan into darkness. Protesters in Yazd chanted, \u201cCrypto for the Guards, Blackouts for the People!\u201d A baker in Ahvaz remarked, \u201cThe lights never go out at the military barracks.\u201d The profits, funnelled abroad or to military projects, underscore the regime\u2019s priorities: power and wealth for the elite, poverty and darkness for the people[5]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This “Bitcoin Mafia” Operating Under the Support of Khamenei and the IRGC, is just one facet of the regime\u2019s corruption. Pension funds have been embezzled, workers have not been paid, and water has been diverted to industries controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), leaving many parts of Iran without water. The mullahs’ focus on maintaining their influence abroad, funding Hezbollah, the Houthis, proxy militias, and nuclear development has devastated Iran’s infrastructure and frustrated its people.<\/p>\n

Wealth Squandered on Militarism<\/h2>\n

The regime\u2019s ideological priorities drain Iran\u2019s wealth further. Experts estimate over $2,000 billion has been spent on its nuclear programme since the 1980s. This pursuit, defying sanctions, prioritises geopolitical posturing over public welfare. At the regional level, Iran has provided financial assistance to proxies such as Hezbollah ($700 million per year, according to U.S. estimates) and the Assad regime in Syria ($50 billion as of 2021, according to the regime’s internal documents), at the expense of ignoring urgent domestic needs[6]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Domestically, the Basij militia and security forces, mobilised against protests like those in Mashhad in May 2025, consume vast resources. The 2022\u20132023 protests saw 100,000 security personnel deployed, backed by surveillance and prisons, while schools and hospitals crumble. On 6 May 2025, the head of the regime’s judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, admitted that the regime arrested more than 90,000 students during those protests. This misallocation fuels the economic despair driving truck drivers, bakers, and farmers to protest.<\/p>\n

A Regime\u2019s Deadlock<\/h2>\n

The ruling theocracy cannot reform without dismantling itself. The IRGC\u2019s economic empire secures its power, while nuclear ambitions and proxy wars define its anti-Western identity. Abandoning either would unravel the regime. Energy Minister Ali Abadi\u2019s admission on 14 May 2025 of no new power investments in three years, while megawatts feed IRGC crypto operations, underscores this neglect.<\/p>\n

The Iranian people\u2019s chants\u2014 \u201cBread, dignity, freedom!\u201d in Mashhad, \u201cThe enemy is right here, they lie when they say it\u2019s America\u201d in Kermanshah\u2014demand systemic change. As long as the theocracy prioritises elite enrichment over public welfare, poverty will persist. The only path to prosperity is uprooting this regime, empowering Iranians to reclaim their nation\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

The Electricity Crisis: A Nation Left in the Dark<\/h2>\n

Iran\u2019s electricity crisis has become a stark symbol of the regime\u2019s neglect and mismanagement. By February 2025, over 70% of the country was grappling with unannounced blackouts that lasted hours, sometimes days, disrupting every facet of life[7]<\/a>. Schools, hospitals, courts, and banks were forced to shut down, plunging communities into chaos. In southern provinces like Hormozgan, Khuzestan, and Bushehr, where temperatures routinely exceed 50\u00b0C, the absence of electricity meant no fans, no air conditioning, and no respite from the heat. Industrial zones, from Qazvin to Arak, reported catastrophic losses as machinery failed and production ground to a halt. The state-run newspaper Donya-e-Eqtesad[8]<\/a> reported on 6 May 2025 that daily economic losses reached 80 trillion rials (approximately $1.96 billion), with the regime\u2019s Chamber of Commerce estimating that $9.8 billion is needed to address a 20,000-megawatt shortfall and $25.2 billion to repair the crumbling grid.<\/p>\n

The damages of this accident are heartbreaking for workers, toilers and the weaker classes. In Shiraz, on 8 May 2025, a baker, driven to despair by repeated power cuts, dumped his spoiled dough outside the local electricity office, declaring, \u201cDear electricity administration, this is the mess you\u2019ve created for us. What are we supposed to do with your incompetence?\u201d In Gonabad, on the same day, a fish farm owner recorded the loss of two tonnes of fish, lamenting, \u201cAll these fish are dead because of no electricity. We have a motor, but no SMS warns us of outages. This is our loss!\u201d In Qazvin, an industrial worker described the financial devastation caused by power fluctuations: \u201cThree times today, the power went out and came back. All our sheets\u2014each worth 60 million rials\u2014are ruined. Our CNC machines are broken. We\u2019re exhausted.\u201d The lack of communication about scheduled outages has left businesses vulnerable, amplifying economic damage and fuelling public anger.<\/p>\n

The regime\u2019s response has been woefully inadequate, bordering on insulting. The authorities urged the citizens to join a \u201c25-degree campaign[9]<\/a>\u201d to lower air conditioner settings. The public\u2019s response was one of bitter sarcasm: \u201cWe don\u2019t even have electricity\u2014how do we adjust air conditioners?\u201d The blackouts have become a rallying cry, a symbol of a regime more concerned with foreign proxy wars and illicit profiteering than the well-being of its people. In Tehran\u2019s Pardis district, nighttime chants of \u201cDeath to Khamenei!\u201d echoed through darkened streets, while in Kermanshah, protesters declared, \u201cThe enemy is right here\u2014they lie when they say it\u2019s America!\u201d The electricity crisis has laid bare the mullahs\u2019 priorities: while ordinary Iranians suffer, vast amounts of power are diverted to IRGC-linked cryptocurrency mining operations, which consume megawatts to fund the regime\u2019s sanction-evading schemes and foreign militias.<\/p>\n

Water Shortage: The Defiance of a Thirsty Nation<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Queuing with their water tanks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Compounding the electricity crisis is a water shortage so severe it has turned cities into deserts and villages into battlegrounds. Power outages have disabled water pumping stations, leaving communities dependent on costly tanker deliveries or manual collection. In Bushehr, on 17 May 2025, a protester filmed a confrontation with authorities, shouting, \u201cThey want to sell water for 7 t0 million rials per tanker. My kids need water!\u201d In Chabahar, on 22 May, a man pleaded with officials, \u201cDo you have a sister, a mother? This woman came to you for help!\u201d The desperation is palpable, with women and children bearing the brunt of the crisis as they queue for hours under the scorching sun, often facing violence from security forces.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Little girl running with her small tank of water<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Farmers, whose livelihoods depend on water, have been pushed to breaking point. In Khonj and Kazeroon, on 23 and 24 May 2025, farmers blocked roads to protest the shutdown of 377 agricultural wells, accusing the regime of diverting water to industrial and military projects controlled by the IRGC. In Isfahan, the Zayandeh Rud riverbed lies dry, a stark symbol of decades of mismanagement. Protesters chanted, \u201cNo to water theft!\u201d and \u201cThe regime is the drought!\u201d as they faced arrests and beatings. In Nesim Shahr, a baker described the absurdity of carrying water in buckets to make dough: \u201cSince yesterday, we\u2019ve had no water. Mr. Governor, Mr. Mayor, what is this situation? Should I close my bakery?\u201d<\/p>\n

The regime\u2019s own officials have acknowledged the crisis\u2019s severity. On 14 May 2025, Energy Minister Abadi warned that cities like Shiraz, Ahvaz, and Karaj face \u201ctotal collapse\u201d of water and electricity supplies, referencing the 2020 Khuzestan water crisis as a cautionary tale. Yet, instead of solutions, the regime has offered only repression. In Ilam and Sistan-Baluchestan, farmers were arrested, and in Bushehr, women and children were trampled in water queues. The water crisis has become a microcosm of the mullahs\u2019 failure: while they prioritise their cronies and military projects, ordinary Iranians are left to fight for the most necessity of life.<\/p>\n

The Bread Line: Bakers\u2019 Revolt Against Ruin<\/h2>\n

\"\"Bread is the lifeblood of Iran, a staple that sustains millions. Yet, the nation\u2019s bakers have been driven to revolt by the dual crises of power and water shortages. Frequent blackouts ruin dough, while hyperinflation, substandard flour, and punitive fines have pushed many bakeries to the brink of bankruptcy. They are also protesting the cutting of subsidies, rising flour prices and a digital baker control system. In Qazvin, on 6 May 2025, a baker lamented, \u201cThree hours without power.<\/p>\n

\"\"Every day, I throw out 20 sacks of dough into the desert. Who will pay for our losses?\u201d In Mashhad, on 24 May, bakers faced tear gas and pepper spray as they protested, chanting, \u201cEnough with empty promises, our tables are empty!\u201d A woman confronted a security officer, shouting, \u201cWhy are you hitting the kids?\u201d The regime\u2019s brutality drew condemnation from Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, who stated on 24 May, \u201cThe vileness of Khamenei\u2019s regime is evident in its use of tear gas against hardworking bakers. I salute their courage in Mashhad, Shahin Shahr, Borujerd, Kerman, and Arak.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Sanandaj, bakers protested rising costs, with one declaring, \u201cThe price of yeast has tripled, and we have no water or electricity. This is the people\u2019s quota being wasted!\u201d In Jekigur, a baker pleaded, \u201cThe flour is bad, the power is out, and the company doesn\u2019t respond. On Judgment Day, you\u2019ll have to answer for this!\u201d These The small-business owners, asking only for basic utilities and fair resources, have faced fines, beatings, and arrests. Their defiance reflects a broader truth: under the mullahs, even the most essential trades are unsustainable, as the regime prioritises its own enrichment over the needs of its people.<\/p>\n

Truck Drivers: A Nationwide Strike for Dignity<\/h2>\n
\"\"
The banner reads: Protest Rally of Drivers and Truckers in Zarand, Kerman
In protest against low fares, high expenses, and vehicle depreciation
We demand that base fares be set according to a “ton-per-kilometer” rate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On May 22, 2025, Iranian truck drivers began a nationwide strike that quickly spread to 155 cities in all 31 provinces, demanding fair tariffs, adequate fuel, affordable repairs, and proper insurance[10]<\/a>. The movement, which began in Bandar Abbas, swiftly spread to major hubs including Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Sanandaj, Ahvaz, and Kermanshah. Drivers blocked roads and rallied with unified chants of \u201cOne pain, one voice!\u201d In Ahvaz, on 25 May, a driver declared, \u201cI\u2019ll keep my truck here until the last day. I\u2019m protesting to support all drivers in Iran.\u201d Similarly, in Fasa, another driver voiced frustration: \u201cThe commission takes our money but provides no services. Our roads are unsafe, our fuel is insufficient, and no one listens.\u201d<\/p>\n

The strike, which entered its 11th consecutive day until 1 June 2025, expanded to include new cities such as Marivan, Anzali, Asman Abadi (Ilam), and Kahak (Qom). Key transit highways, including Bandar Abbas\u2013Shiraz, Mashhad, Arak, Qazvin, and Shahreza, stood deserted, as evidenced by videos circulating widely. The drivers\u2019 slogans were bold and defiant, resonating in cities like Zabol, Ahar, and Zahedan: \u201cThe driver is awake, despising both the Shah and the Sheikh!\u201d and \u201cDeath to the oppressor, be it the Shah or the Leader!\u201d In Mashhad, a driver reflected on their plight: \u201cWe thought trucking meant wealth, but all we got was misery. We\u2019re forced to bribe police and navigate broken roads. Nothing is left for us.\u201d In Sanandaj, on 23 May, drivers blocked roads, with one proclaiming, \u201cLook, there\u2019s no space left to park. Ninety percent of these trucks have cargo, but we\u2019ve stopped. Bravo to Sanandaj\u2019s honour!\u201d<\/p>\n

The regime\u2019s response has been marked by repression, including arrests, threats to revoke licences, and accusations of \u201cforeign agitation.\u201d In Isfahan, Hormozgan, Fars, Kermanshah, Gilan-e Gharb, Ardabil, and Khuzestan, several drivers were detained, prompting demands for their immediate release. The IRGC in Khuzestan arrested individuals filming the strike in Bandar Imam, while Kamran Mirhaji, the prosecutor of Fars Province, warned of \u201cserious action\u201d against those disrupting truck activity, threatening to impound vehicles and cancel fuel cards (Mehr News Agency, 28 May). The General Directorate of Roads and Road Transport of Yazd Province issued a notice mandating that all transport fleet vehicles report to the terminal by 10:00 AM on 31 May for loading, or face suspension of services.<\/p>\n

\"\"Fearing the strike\u2019s expansion, the regime deployed a convoy of IRGC trucks labelled \u201cConvoy for the Transport of Essential Goods for Tehran Province\u201d to mitigate disruptions. However, the drivers\u2019 resolve remains unshaken. They have rejected promises from officials, such as Reza Rostami of the Chamber of Commerce and the head of the parliamentary construction committee, to review freight rates, insurance, and fuel issues by the end of Khordad (21 June), dismissing these as ploys to undermine the strike.<\/p>\n

The strike has garnered widespread support, with small truck owners in Neyshabur joining the protest and solidarity statements issued by retirees, teachers, oil workers, women, nurses, child rights advocates, and anti-execution activists. This broad backing underscores the strike\u2019s resonance with the broader demands of Iran\u2019s working population. Fatemeh Mohajerani, spokesperson for Masoud Pezeshkian, acknowledged the strike on 28 May, stating, \u201cA report on the truckers\u2019 strike was presented, and it was emphasised that the government has a duty to respond to the needs of all citizens\u201d (IRNA, 28 May 2025). Yet, such assurances have done little to quell the drivers\u2019 determination.<\/p>\n

The state-run newspaper Donya-ye-Eqtesad noted on 29 May 2025: \u201cThe truckers\u2019 strike is not just a stoppage by a single trade group, but a warning bell for the entire road-based supply chain\u2014the main artery of Iran\u2019s economy. For an economy where over 90% of goods are transported via road freight, the strike is not merely a professional dispute, but a symptom of institutional dysfunction. If the wheels of transportation stop, the wheels of industry will also come to a halt.\u201d This strike is more than a labour dispute; it is a strategic stand for dignity, exposing the regime\u2019s inability to meet the needs of a critical sector that keeps the nation moving.<\/p>\n

Retirees: Stolen Pensions, Broken Promises<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Retirees\u2019 sit-in<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Retirees, particularly from the telecommunications and oil sectors, have taken to the streets weekly in over 20 cities[11]<\/a>, demanding payment of pensions destroyed by inflation and corruption. In Ahvaz, on 13 May 2025, they chanted, \u201cThey\u2019ve stolen the oil fund and left us destitute!\u201d In Kermanshah, on 20 May, retirees shouted, \u201c(Imam) Hossein is their slogan but lies and theft are their actions!\u201d In Tehran, telecommunications retirees protested, declaring, \u201cThe majority shareholders have eaten our rights!\u201d Their persistence, despite facing riot police and official silence, underscores their desperation. One former oil worker in Rasht said, \u201cThis isn\u2019t just about money. It\u2019s about being erased. We gave our lives to this country, and now we\u2019re left with nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joining bakers and truck drivers, retirees have formed a coalition of the forgotten, their weekly marches a testament to their refusal to be silenced. Their protests highlight a profound moral failure: a regime that once promised social justice now leaves its most vulnerable citizens to rummage through bins for survival, while billions are funnelled to the IRGC and foreign proxies.<\/p>\n

Farmers and Workers: A Fight for Survival<\/h2>\n
\"\"
One of the placards reads: We don\u2019t want an incompetent manager!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Farmers, grappling with dried-up wells and ruined crops, have resorted to road blockades to demand relief. In Kazeroon, on 24 May 2025, a farmer stated, \u201cNo one is here to help us, not even the governor.\u201d In Seyfabad Khonj, on 23 May, farmers protested, saying, \u201cWe\u2019re striking because we have no water or electricity.\u201d In Zahedan, sanitation workers, unpaid for months, cried out, \u201cMy child needs formula, but I can\u2019t afford it. What have we done wrong?\u201d The regime\u2019s Deputy Health Minister reported on 14 May 2025 that 10,000 workers die annually due to workplace accidentsa figure that is ten times higher than previous estimates and highlights conditions similar to slaughterhouses in worker environments.[12]<\/a><\/p>\n

In Shahr-e Kord, workers and vendors resisted bulldozers sent to clear their stalls, chanting, \u201cAll have become corrupt!\u201d In Ahvaz and Arak, industrial workers protested power cuts that damaged machinery, declaring, \u201cWe\u2019ve had enough!\u201d These labourers, the backbone of Iran\u2019s economy, are demanding not wealth but survival. Their protests, met with violence and arrests, reflect a growing defiance against a regime that prioritises its cronies over the needs of its people.<\/p>\n

University Students: Rejecting Humiliation<\/h2>\n

Iranian university students increasingly participate in 2025 protests .. From Tehran\u2019s Beheshti University to institutions in Tabriz, Mashhad, and Isfahan, students have joined forces with bakers, truck drivers, and retirees, rejecting a regime that offers them no future beyond subservience or exile. Sparked by power outages, water shortages, and deepening repression, their protests represent not spontaneous outbursts but a sustained repudiation of a regime that betrays their hopes.<\/p>\n

On 4 May 2025, female students at Beheshti University chanted, \u201cThe student will die but will not accept humiliation!\u201d\u2014a slogan echoing across campuses since 1999. Students\u2019 grievances span both immediate hardship and structural repression. Widespread electricity cuts have disrupted teaching and research, forcing universities to cancel classes or operate in darkness. In Tabriz, students reported studying by candlelight, with one declaring, \u201cWe\u2019re denied electricity, water, and hope. Is this the future they promised?\u201d Meanwhile, dormitories in cities like Shiraz and Ahvaz suffer severe water shortages and unsanitary conditions.<\/p>\n

Universities, once hubs of critical thought, now operate under the shadow of Basij and morality police, who monitor speech, enforce hijab laws, and expel dissenters. In early May, Mashhad students staged a sit-in, criticising a system that rewards IRGC loyalty over academic merit. Though some slogans are difficult to confirm, protesters have voiced strong opposition to the regime\u2019s militarised priorities.<\/p>\n

Acts of defiance have multiplied. In Isfahan, students reportedly blocked campus entrances on 15 May to protest power cuts and surveillance. Security forces responded with tear gas and arrests. Yet protests endured, with chants like \u201cWe will not die in silence!\u201d In Tehran, a video from 18 May showed a female student confronting Basij enforcers, stating, \u201cYou can\u2019t scare us anymore. We\u2019re fighting for our lives!\u201d The footage went viral, galvanising broader resistance.<\/p>\n

The regime responded with denials and crackdowns. Officials dismissed the protests as \u201cforeign-orchestrated,\u201d a claim met with defiant rebuttals like \u201cThe enemy is right here\u2014they lie when they say it\u2019s America!\u201d In May 2025, reports indicated that over 200 students were arrested during nationwide protests. Human rights organizations have previously documented that detainees in Iran often face torture and are coerced into making forced confession.<\/p>\n

Students have joined a growing coalition of protestors demanding systemic change. Slogans such as \u201cBread, dignity, freedom!\u201d and \u201cDeath to the oppressor, be it the Shah or the Leader!\u201d reflect a collective rejection of both monarchy and theocracy. As one Tehran student put it on 22 May: \u201cWe\u2019re not just fighting for electricity. We\u2019re fighting for a future where we can breathe.\u201d In the face of repression, this generation of students is proving to be the regime\u2019s most determined adversary.[13]<\/a><\/p>\n

The Regime\u2019s Response: Brutality and Denial<\/h2>\n

The regime\u2019s response to the protests has been a toxic mix of denial, hollow promises, and escalating violence. Fatemeh Mohajerani, spokesperson for President Masoud Pezeshkian, admitted on 13 May 2025 a 20,000-megawatt shortfall but urged citizens to conserve energy, a suggestion met with scorn[14]<\/a>. MPs have been more candid: MP Ahmad Jabari said, \u201cThe repeated power outages have exhausted the people of Hormozgan. Why should the people pay for the Ministry\u2019s incompetence?\u201d MP Mojtaba Zareie described provinces like Bushehr and Khuzestan as \u201chell\u201d due to outages, while MP Kamal Hosseinpour lamented, \u201cFarmers no longer complain about outages because they\u2019ve given up. All they want is a schedule, and even that we can\u2019t provide.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet, instead of solutions, the regime deploys repression. In Mashhad, on 24 May 2025, security forces used tear gas and pepper spray against bakers. In Shahr-e Kord, municipal forces bulldozed vendors\u2019 stalls, prompting outrage. In Sanandaj, truck drivers faced arrests, yet their strike held firm. In Ahvaz, bulldozers cleared protest sites, but chants of \u201cWe are not afraid!\u201d persisted. The regime\u2019s execution rate has surged, with over 160 reported in May alone, a desperate attempt to instil fear. But fear is losing its grip on a population that has lost faith in the mullahs\u2019 ability to govern.<\/p>\n

Resistance Units: Catalyst for Nationwide Protests<\/h2>\n

The People\u2019s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI\/MEK) Resistance Units[15]<\/a>, as the only opposition with a national network in the cities of Iran’s 31 provinces, form a dynamic, decentralised network of activists operating covertly across Iran, serving as both a spark and a sustaining force for nationwide protests against the regime\u2019s authoritarian rule.<\/p>\n

Comprising agile cells, these units are primarily composed of young, educated individuals\u2014often teenagers and young adults, with women playing a prominent leadership role. Despite their qualifications, they face systemic exclusion, denied opportunities and a future under the current regime. Their bold actions, ranging from symbolic acts of defiance to coordinated support for broader social movements, have made them a cornerstone of Iran\u2019s pro-democracy struggle, igniting and prolonging protests that challenge the regime\u2019s grip on power.<\/p>\n

Expanding and Sustaining a Nationwide Uprising<\/h2>\n

The Resistance Units have proven adept at catalysing large-scale protests, transforming local grievances into nationwide movements. During the 2022 uprising sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, they played a pivotal role in ensuring protests spread rapidly to over 280 cities[16]<\/a>. From the Caspian Sea to Baluchistan, their coordinated efforts amplified unified slogans, turning scattered discontent into a cohesive national outcry. By distributing anti-regime messages, organising flash protests, and leveraging their mobility to ignite demonstrations in new towns and cities, the Resistance Units prevented the regime from swiftly quelling the unrest. Their strategic interventions sustained the uprising for several months, as new protesters stepped in to replace those arrested, keeping the momentum alive.<\/p>\n

Their actions extend beyond spontaneous protests, as they actively target symbols of regime oppression to galvanise public dissent. For instance, in recent weeks Resistance Units have carried out audacious attacks, including three explosions at a Basij militia base in Tehran, and the firebombing of a Basij base in Mashhad. In Khash, they attacked a Basij base suppressing women with Molotov cocktails, while in Tehran, Ilam, and Birjand, they set fire to regime banners featuring images of Khomeini and Khamenei. These acts of defiance, documented through videos and images, inspire broader participation and signal the regime\u2019s vulnerability, encouraging ordinary citizens to join the struggle.<\/p>\n

Beyond sparking protests, the Resistance Units provide critical support to sustain and amplify social movements, such as the truck drivers\u2019 strike that has paralysed more than 155 cities across all 31 provinces in May 2025. In response to the regime\u2019s violent crackdown on striking truckers and bakers, the Resistance Units launched a series of retaliatory actions. They conducted 15 targeted operations, including explosions at Basij bases in Tehran and Mashhadand the destruction of a Basij intelligence guidepost in Hamedan. In Khash and Goujan, they firebombed Basij bases while in Kerman, they torched a Basij student unit. These actions not only disrupted the regime\u2019s repressive apparatus but also boosted the morale of striking workers, reinforcing their resolve[17]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Resistance Units also engage in grassroots mobilisation, amplifying the voices of protesters through media and propaganda. In cities like Ahvaz, they recorded videos of idle truck terminals and police threats, while in Tehran, they painted anti-regime slogans on the walls of the Khayaran terminal. In Sanandaj, they burned banners of Khamenei, and in Mashhad, they circulated audio messages with hashtags like to rally public support. Night-time leaflet distributions in Bandar Abbas and protest songs in Shiraz further sustained the momentum of the truckers\u2019 strike, ensuring it remained a focal point of national resistance.<\/p>\n

Targeted Repression, Enduring Resistance<\/h2>\n

The regime\u2019s harsh response underscores the existential threat posed by the Resistance Units. As of April 2023, over 3,600 members had been imprisoned or reported missing since the 2022 uprising began, reflecting the regime\u2019s relentless efforts to dismantle the network through arrests, judicial intimidation, and extrajudicial measures. Despite this, the Resistance Units remain resilient, operating under a tightly controlled surveillance state. Their ability to document human rights abuses, distribute subversive materials, and coordinate protests in cities like Kermanshah and Tabriz demonstrates their organisational sophistication and unwavering commitment.<\/p>\n

The Resistance Units\u2019 enduring defiance is a testament to the unbreakable spirit of Iran\u2019s younger generation. By acting as both a catalyst for protests and a backbone for their continuation, they have transformed isolated acts of resistance into a sustained national movement. Their actions expose the regime\u2019s institutional dysfunction and inspire hope for a democratic future, making the Resistance Units an indispensable force in Iran\u2019s struggle for freedom.[18]<\/a><\/p>\n

A Unified Call for Systemic Change<\/h2>\n

The protests of 2025 are not isolated grievances but a unified demand for systemic change. Slogans like \u201cBread, dignity, freedom!\u201d in Mashhad, \u201cWe will not die in silence!\u201d in Tehran, and \u201cThe enemy is right here\u2014they lie when they say it\u2019s America!\u201d in Kermanshah reflect a rejection of the regime\u2019s propaganda and a demand for accountability. In Darab, on 10 May 2025, a woman declared, \u201cWe have a patient on oxygen. If you can\u2019t solve our problems, resign!\u201d In Arak\u2019s Kheyrabad Industrial Zone, workers protested power cuts, chanting, \u201cAll have become corrupt!\u201d The unity of bakers, truckers, retirees, farmers, students, and workers signals a movement that transcends class, geography, and background, bound by a shared resolve to end the mullahs\u2019 tyranny.<\/p>\n

The horizontal structure of these protests is remarkable. They emerge wherever injustice is felt. Truck drivers chant \u201cOne pain, one voice!\u201d alongside retirees demanding their rights. Farmers march with bakers, shouting, \u201cWe\u2019ve had enough!\u201d Students support sanitation workers, proclaiming, \u201cWe won\u2019t accept humiliation!\u201d This solidarity suggests the potential for a broader confrontation, as the structural conditions\u2014economic despair, institutional decay, generational betrayal, and environmental catastrophe\u2014intensify. Inflation remains above 40%, youth unemployment is staggering, the power grid is outdated, and water tables are collapsing. The regime\u2019s strategy offers no hope, only more repression and corruption.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The clerical regime’s iron grip is on the verge of collapse, its legitimacy eroded by decades of corruption, repression, and gross mismanagement. The spring of 2025 has laid bare the regime\u2019s failures, as power outages plunge cities into darkness, water shortages turn villages into wastelands, and economic ruin strips millions of their dignity. From Tehran\u2019s bustling streets to the parched fields of Sistan-Baluchestan, a diverse coalition of bakers, truck drivers, retirees, farmers, students, and workers has risen in defiance, united by a shared demand for justice and a future free from the mullahs\u2019 tyranny. These protests, spanning all 31 provinces, are not mere cries of desperation but a resounding call for systemic upheaval. The only viable solution to Iran\u2019s cascading economic and social crises lies in the complete dismantlement of the theocratic regime and the establishment of a democratic system that prioritises the people\u2019s needs over the enrichment of a corrupt elite.<\/p>\n

The mullahs\u2019 regime offers no path to reform because it sees it as a quick fall into the abyss of overthrow. Its priorities\u2014funding foreign proxies, sustaining IRGC-linked cryptocurrency schemes, and diverting resources to military projects\u2014have left Iran\u2019s infrastructure crumbling and its citizens destitute. Official admissions, such as Energy Minister Ali Abadi\u2019s confession on 14 May 2025 of a 20,000-megawatt shortfall and the absence of new power investments, underscore a regime incapable of addressing even basic needs. The daily economic losses of 80 trillion rials ($1.96 billion) and the staggering $25.2 billion required to repair the grid highlight the scale of neglect. Meanwhile, water shortages have crippled agriculture, with farmers in Khonj and Kazeroon blocking roads to protest well shutdowns, and urban dwellers in Bushehr and Chabahar facing exorbitant tanker prices. Inflation above 50%, coupled with unpaid pensions and wages, has rendered survival a daily struggle for retirees, workers, and small-business owners alike. The regime\u2019s response\u2014empty promises, tear gas, and a surge in executions\u2014only deepens the chasm between rulers and ruled, proving that reform within this system is a mirage.<\/p>\n

As Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, declared on 22 May 2025, the truck drivers\u2019 cry of \u201cWe can no longer continue; we are crushed, but we will not remain silent\u201d encapsulates the spirit of a nation refusing to be silenced. She rightly asserted, \u201cUprising and resistance are the only paths to freedom from poverty, discrimination, unemployment, and systemic government corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n

The courage of Iran\u2019s people, forged in shared suffering, transcends class and geography, uniting bakers chanting \u201cEnough with empty promises!\u201d with students proclaiming, \u201cWe will not accept humiliation!\u201d This solidarity signals a movement poised to reshape Iran\u2019s destiny. The chants of \u201cDeath to the oppressor, be it the Shah or the Leader!\u201d and \u201cThe enemy is right here\u2014they lie when they say it\u2019s America!\u201d reflect a profound rejection of the regime\u2019s propaganda and a demand for accountability.<\/p>\n

The Iranian people\u2019s courage, born of shared suffering, signals a movement that could reshape the nation\u2019s destiny. Only by uprooting the theocratic regime and empowering the Iranian people to chart their own course can the nation overcome its crises and secure a future of prosperity and justice.<\/p>\n

Footnotes<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Amir Taghati, \u201cIran\u2019s Economy Worsening in Light of Increasing Monopolization,\u201d NCRI Foreign Affairs Committee, 20 October 2021. Available at: https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/economy\/irans-economy-worsening-in-light-of-increasing-monopolization\/<\/a><\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Staff Writer, \u201cThe Role of Astan-e Quds Razavi, a Key ‘Religious Foundation’, in Iranian Regime\u2019s Terrorism, Extremist Policies, And Recruitment of Western Spies,\u201d NCRI Foreign Affairs Committee, 8 November 2019. Available at: https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/publications\/special-reports\/the-role-of-astan-e-quds-razavi-a-key-religious-foundation-in-iranian-regime-s-terrorism-extremist-policies-and-recruitment-of-western-spies\/<\/a><\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> IRAN: The Rise of the Revolutionary Guards’ Financial Empire: How the Supreme Leader and the IRGC Rob the People to Fund International Terror, U.S. Representative Office, NCRI, 2017. Available at: https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/IRAN-Revolutionary-Financial-Supreme-International-ebook\/dp\/B073WLKZJQ<\/a><\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Mansoureh Galestan, \u201cRecord 3.7 Billion Embezzlement Scandal Shakes Iran\u2019s Tea Industry, Revealing Deep Corruption and Production Consequences,\u201d NCRI Foreign Affairs Committee, 6 December 2023. Available at: https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/economy\/record-3-7b-embezzlement-scandal-shakes-irans-tea-industry-revealing-deep-corruption-and-production-consequences\/<\/a><\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Shahriar Kia, \u201cBitcoin Mining in Iran, IRGC Operations and the Power Grid Crisis,\u201d NCRI Foreign Affairs Committee, 26 May 2025.\u00a0 Available at: https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/publications\/special-reports\/bitcoin-mining-in-iran-irgc-operations-and-the-power-grid-crisis\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com<\/a><\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Hamid Enayat, \u201cAt the Heart of Nuclear Negotiations, a Troubling Revelation,\u201d Jewish Journal, 30 May 2025. Available at: https:\/\/jewishjournal.com\/commentary\/opinion\/381834\/at-the-heart-of-nuclear-negotiations-a-troubling-revelation\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com<\/a><\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> \u201cDisruption of Electricity in Iran, the Government Reported Rise in Power Outages in Homes,\u201d BBC Farsi, 13 May 2025. Available in Farsi at: Available at: https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/persian\/articles\/cwynx10llgwo<\/a><\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Energy, p. 7, 16 May 2025, Available in Farsi at: https:\/\/donya-e-eqtesad.com\/tags\/%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B1%DA%98%DB%8C\/?page=7<\/a><\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Statement No. 1 by Ministry of Energy, Urging Customers to Keep the Heat at 35 Celsius, 22 April 2025. Available in Farsi at: https:\/\/barghnews.com\/fa\/news\/62167\/<\/a><\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> \u201cUnprecedented Strike by Truck Drivers Enters Sixth Day,\u201d Radio Farda, 27 May 2025. Available in Farsi at https:\/\/www.radiofarda.com\/a\/iran-strike\/33424787.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com<\/a><\/p>\n

[11]<\/a> Mahmoud Hakamian, \u201cThe Escalation of Protests in Iran Against Looting and Corruption Amidst a Severe Economic Crisis,\u201d The People\u2019s Mojahedin Orgnisation of Iran, 3 March 2025. Available at: https:\/\/english.mojahedin.org\/news\/the-escalation-of-protests-in-iran-against-looting-and-corruption-amidst-a-severe-economic-crisis\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com<\/a><\/p>\n

[12]<\/a> Mansoureh Galestan, \u201cIran Protests: Bakers and Drivers Ignite Nationwide Demonstrations Amid Economic Collapse,\u201d NCRI Foreign Affairs Committee, 24 May 2025. Available at: https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-protests\/iran-protests-bakers-and-drivers-ignite-nationwide-demonstrations-amid-economic-collapse\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com<\/a><\/p>\n

[13]<\/a> \u201cIran Protests Weekly: Nationwide Trucker Strike Shakes Regime, Bakers & Retirees Rise Up,\u201d People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, 1 June 2025, YouTube Video. Available at: https:\/\/youtu.be\/EqCfLLir_Tg<\/a><\/p>\n

[14]<\/a> Government Spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani: \u201cThe Country is Facing a Shortage of 20,000 Megawatts of Electricity,\u201d Khabarban, Available in Farsi at: https:\/\/44626313.khabarban.com\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com<\/a><\/p>\n

[15]<\/a> PMOI Resistance Units, People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, Available at: https:\/\/english.mojahedin.org\/pmoi-resistance-units\/<\/a><\/p>\n

[16]<\/a> Matin Karim, \u201cHow PMOI Resistance Units Are Shaping Iran’s Democratic Future,\u201d People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, 1 August 2024. Available at: https:\/\/english.mojahedin.org\/article\/how-pmoi-resistance-units-are-shaping-irans-democratic-future\/<\/a><\/p>\n

[17]<\/a> Matin Karim, \u201cPMOI Resistance Units in Tehran Confront Regime’s ‘Electricity Thieves’ Amidst Deepening Power Crisis,\u201d People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, 15 Mary 2025.Available at: https:\/\/english.mojahedin.org\/news\/pmoi-resistance-units-in-tehran-confront-regimes-electricity-thieves-amidst-deepening-power-crisis\/<\/a><\/p>\n

[18]<\/a> How PMOI Resistance Units Are Shaping Iran\u2019s Future,\u201d People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran,\u201d September 2024, Available at: https:\/\/youtu.be\/rRLIn46qhfA?list=PLqrxnz6Vvh40fgnFH5xr8onA5-f2lBlby<\/a><\/p>\n

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