On Monday, June 6, Social Security Organization retirees and pensioners held protest rallies in several cities across Iran, protesting low wages and pensions, insurance issues, and poor living conditions. Kerman, Mashhad, Zanjan, Ahvaz, Kermanshah, Tabriz, Dezful, Shushtar, Rasht, Karaj, Qazvin, Shush, and Shiraz were among the cities where protests were reported.

 

The retiree protests, which take place on a regular basis, come as Iran has experienced two waves of intense anti-regime protests in the last month, sparked by deteriorating economic conditions, rising inflation, and skyrocketing prices of basic goods.

Continued from previous weeks, retirees and Social Security Organization pensioners are calling for an immediate increase in their pensions to address their growing problems, while the entire economy continues to suffer from mismanagement, massive corruption, and the regime’s destructive policies.

Protesters in Karaj chanted “Death to Raisi!” and “high prices and inflation are killing the people!” in an attempt to hold regime president Ebrahim Raisi responsible for the current economic situation.

 

 

Retired workers in Kerman gathered outside the provincial office and blocked a road, chanting, “incompetent minister, resign!”

“We will not give in to disgrace,” protesters in Tabriz chanted, expressing their displeasure and rage at the government’s continued threats and repression of their right to speak out. “death to Raisi,” the protesters chanted as well.

Raisi made bold promises to eradicate poverty and improve the country’s economic situation after taking office in August 2021. Prices of basic goods are skyrocketing ten months into his presidency, inflation is at an all-time high, and the rial’s value continues to plummet.

“Neither the government nor the Majlis (parliament) cares about the people,” protesters in Kermanshah held signs.

“The minister is a disgrace,” the protesters chanted, referring to Raisi’s Labor Minister, Hojatollah Abdolmaleki.

“This minister is a disgrace. We, retirees, owe nothing to anyone,” one of the protesters said. The crowd chanted, “retirees will die but won’t give in to disgrace.”

The elderly and retirees are among the hardest hit groups in society. To make ends meet, they rely on government stipends, but the regime has refused to raise their pensions in line with rising inflation and the depreciation of the national currency.

 

In the new Persian calendar year, the government was supposed to raise pensions (starting in March). It was also supposed to settle unpaid pensions remaining from the previous year. It has so far failed to meet both demands.

Surprisingly, the regime’s own media reported that The Social Security Investment Company (SHASTA), the financial institution responsible for funding retirees, had seen a significant increase in profits in the previous year. However, these gains have yet to be seen in the lives of retirees and pensioners.

 

 

Prices of flour, bread, milk, cooking oil, and other staple foods have risen dramatically in recent weeks. The regime has made empty promises to keep inflation and prices under control but has failed to do so.

This has sparked protests in a number of cities, which have quickly devolved into anti-regime rallies calling for the mullahs’ overthrow.

The regime continues to fund its military and terror apparatus, funneling billions of dollars into the coffers of the Revolutionary Guards and its terrorist proxies in the region, and spending vast sums on developing and testing ballistic missiles, while pensioners, workers, drivers, teachers, and other social sectors are deprived of their most basic needs.

 

 

 

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