{"id":348987,"date":"2026-10-25T21:11:17","date_gmt":"2026-10-25T20:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=348987"},"modified":"2026-10-25T21:11:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T20:11:17","slug":"retirees-return-to-the-streets-in-iran-as-the-regime-expands-its-internal-security-machinery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/economy\/retirees-return-to-the-streets-in-iran-as-the-regime-expands-its-internal-security-machinery\/","title":{"rendered":"Retirees Return to the Streets in Iran as the Regime Expands Its Internal-Security Machinery"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A deprived man searching for hope in the discarded corners of an urban street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Three-minute read<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Retirees demonstrated on October 25 in Tehran, Isfahan, Shush, Ahvaz and Rasht, again turning livelihood grievances into political slogans. Protesters demanded imprisoned demonstrators be freed, denounced poverty and corruption, and chanted that neither parliament nor the government represented their interests. In several gatherings<\/a>, retirees repeated that \u201conly in the street will we get our rights,\u201d underscoring how pension and healthcare disputes continue to produce organized street action rather than being absorbed through official channels.<\/p>\n

The economic backdrop remains severe, but the more consequential development is how the state is preparing to manage its political consequences. A 50-signature parliamentary bill proposes<\/a> restructuring the National Security Council around what it explicitly calls \u201ccognitive security governance\u201d and countering \u201ccognitive threats and wars.\u201d The legislation would require security planning to incorporate political, social, economic and technological developments and would expand continuous coordination of national and provincial security policy. The terminology is revealing: public perceptions, narratives and social reactions are being incorporated formally into the security architecture rather than treated primarily as questions of governance.<\/p>\n

That approach extends directly to communications. Parliament\u2019s Article 90 Commission has intervened to oppose<\/a> plans to float the state-owned Infrastructure Communications Company, which controls Iran\u2019s backbone telecommunications network, on the stock market. MP Mohammad-Taqi Naqdali argued on October 25 that state ownership was necessary because loss of direct control could jeopardize network security and communications stability during crises.<\/p>\n

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#Iran<\/a>\u2019s #Economic<\/a> Collapse, According to the Regime\u2019s Own Media
Iran\u2019s deepening economic crisis is becoming increasingly evident in statistics and reports published by state-run media. https:\/\/t.co\/w3IaydnX9Q<\/a><\/p>\n

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) October 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n