For the third day in a row, Social Security retirees and pensioners rallied in several cities on Wednesday, June 8, to protest low wages and pensions, insurance issues, and poor living conditions. Arak, Tehran, Kermanshah, Karaj, Yazd, and Ahvaz were among the cities where protests were reported. The regular protests come as Iran has experienced two waves of intense anti-regime demonstrations in the last month, sparked by deteriorating economic conditions, rising inflation, and skyrocketing prices of basic goods.

While the retirees and Social Security Organization pensioners have previously held weekly rallies, this is the first time they have gathered for several days in a row. The demonstrations are taking place as a result of the regime’s refusal to respond to their demands. At the same time, Iran’s economy continues to suffer from inflation, with basic goods prices soaring. Employees are struggling to put food on the table, let alone retirees who rely on government stipends to make ends meet.

Protesters in Tehran chanted, “our government is a disgrace,” in response to the regime’s failure to respond to their demands.

 

 

Pensioners in Kermanshah were chanting, “we will die, but we will not be humiliated.” These demonstrations are taking place as the regime employs a variety of tactics to intimidate protesters and prevent them from taking to the streets.

“We don’t want a sixth-grader government,” the demonstrators in Karaj chanted, referring to regime president Ebrahim Raisi, who is regularly mocked by Iranians for his lack of education.

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 less than a year into his presidency, inflation is at an all-time high, and the rial’s value continues to plummet.

 

Protesters in Yazd were chanting “death to Raisi!”

The elderly and retirees are among the hardest hit groups in society. The regime has refused to raise their pensions in line with rising inflation and the national currency’s depreciation in value.

In the new Persian calendar year, the government was supposed to raise pensions (starting in March). It was also supposed to take care of any outstanding pensions from the previous year. It has so far failed to meet both demands. The regime has approved a ten percent increase in pensions, but its own Labor Council has stated that to keep up with rising living costs and inflation, retirees will need at least a 38 percent increase in their pensions.

 

 

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.

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 massive amounts on developing and testing ballistic missiles, while pensioners, workers, drivers, teachers, and other sectors of society are deprived of their most basic needs.

 

 

 

 

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