Protests in Southwest Iran Result in Fatalities Amid Calls for Political Change
Two people have been killed in Lordegan, southwest Iran, during ongoing protests that have entered their fifth day. Fars News Agency reported the fatalities and Hengaw identified the deceased as protesters Ahmad Jalil, 21, and a 28-year-old named Khaledi. BBC Persian has not independently verified these deaths.
The protests were sparked by a collapse of the currency and have spread to multiple cities including Lordegan, Tehran, and Marvdasht in Fars province. Demonstrators have expressed varied demands, with some calling for an end to clerical rule and others advocating for a return to monarchy. Videos from Thursday show cars being set on fire amid clashes.
State media reported the death of a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Kudasht, although this has not been independently verified by the BBC. Protesters claim the man killed was actually a protester shot by security forces. In the same area, 13 police officers and Basij members sustained injuries from stone-throwing.
In response to the unrest, schools, universities, and public institutions were closed on Wednesday following a bank holiday declared by authorities, reportedly to both quell unrest and conserve energy during cold weather. President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the government will listen to legitimate demands, while Prosecutor General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad warned that any instability will be met with a decisive response.
