The ongoing protests in Iran, now entering their fifth day, have turned deadly as reports confirm the deaths of two people during unrest over the rising cost of living. Initial reports from both the semi-official Fars news agency and the human rights group Hengaw indicated that the clashes occurred in Lordegan, a city in southwestern Iran.
On Thursday, videos surfacing on social media depicted cars ablaze amidst intense confrontations between demonstrators and security forces. The protests, driven by anger over currency devaluation and economic disparities, have resonated through multiple cities, with demonstrators increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction with Iran's leadership.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain contested, with some reports identifying the victims as protesters while other state media claim one was associated with the security forces. Independent verification of these claims has not yet been possible.
In addition to the fatalities, security reports suggest that dozens of law enforcement personnel sustained injuries from stones thrown by protesters. In an apparent attempt to quell the unrest, Iranian authorities have closed schools and universities nationwide and declared a bank holiday.
Protests erupted following a severe drop in the value of the Iranian toman against the US dollar, impacting the cost of essential goods. The scale of the ongoing protests has drawn comparisons to previous uprisings, although the current movement does not appear as expansive as the one sparked by Mahsa Amini's death in custody in 2022.
In response to the unrest, President Masoud Pezeshkian has pledged to address the 'legitimate demands' of the public, while the prosecutor general warned of a 'decisive response' to any attempts to destabilize the country further.
