SULAIMANI (ESTA) — One person was killed during a protest in southwestern Iran against a government decision to raise the costs of basic goods, an MP told Iranian media Saturday.
The protests were triggered last week by a cut in state subsidies for imported wheat that caused price hikes of as much as 300% for a variety of flour-based staples. The government of President Ebrahim Raisi also raised prices of basic goods such as cooking oil and dairy products, according to Reuters.
The northern city of Rasht, the central town of Farsan, and the northeastern city of Neyshabur, were among areas hit by protests, according to videos posted on social media.
“Raisi, have some shame, let go of the country!,” chanted protesters on one such video.
Local lawmaker Ahmad Avai told the semi-official ILNA news agency that one person had been killed during rallies in Dezful, a city in the oil producing southwestern province of Khuzestan.
State media earlier said an estimated 300 people were dispersed by security forces in Dezful and 15 were arrested late on Thursday.
Following the announcement of the new economic measures, people rushed to supermarkets to stock up on goods before the price rises came into effect on Friday, according to social media images broadcast on state television, according to AFP.
Iran has been reeling under the effect of sanctions reimposed by the U.S. in 2018 — exacerbated by rising prices worldwide since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
Iran has seen several waves of protests over living conditions in recent years, most notably in 2019 after a fuel price hike.
In recent months, teachers have hold successive demonstrations demanding the speeding up of reforms that would see their salaries better reflect their experience and performance.
(Esta Media Network/Agencies)
