At least six people have been killed as protests over Iran’s worsening economic conditions spread to several parts of the country, according to Iranian media reports.
Three people were killed and at least 17 others injured during demonstrations in Azna city of Lorestan province, around 300 kilometres southwest of Tehran, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported on Thursday. Videos circulating on social media appeared to show burning objects on streets and the sound of gunfire as protesters shouted slogans condemning authorities.
Earlier, Fars reported that two people were killed in protests in Lordegan city, located about 470 kilometres south of Tehran in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province.
The agency said some protesters pelted stones at administrative buildings, including the governor’s office, mosque, town hall, banks and offices linked to state institutions, and police responded using tear gas.
Iranian state television also reported that a member of the security forces was killed overnight in Kouhdasht city, western Iran. Quoting Said Pourali, deputy governor of Lorestan province, the broadcaster said a 21-year-old member of the Basij, a volunteer force affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed while attempting to maintain public order.
The protests began earlier this week after shopkeepers and traders demonstrated against the government’s handling of a sharp currency slide and rising prices. Iran’s economy has been under severe strain amid Western sanctions, with inflation reported to be around 40 percent.
Iran also exchanged strikes by Israel and the United States in June, which reportedly targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and senior military leadership.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has sought to defuse tensions, acknowledging what he described as protesters’ “legitimate demands” and urging authorities to act swiftly to address economic hardships. Speaking at an event broadcast on state television, Pezeshkian warned that failing to resolve livelihood issues would have serious consequences.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Thursday that authorities would hold direct talks with representatives of trade unions and merchants, though no further details were provided.
The United States first imposed sanctions on Iran in November 1979, following the Islamic Revolution that overthrew Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and brought Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to power. The measures were triggered by the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the hostage-taking of American diplomats, beginning a prolonged sanctions regime that has since played a central role in shaping Iran’s economic challenges.