At least ten people were shot dead in Iran following clashes between riot police and protesters in Tehran and several Iranian cities after the government raised the price of petrol up by 300 per cent.
The deaths occurred in separate incidents in the cities of Sirjan, Behbahan, Mariwan, Shiraz, and Javanrood.
The protest occurred Nationwide in Tehran, Eslamshahr, Dari, Gorgan, Yasuj, Dehdasht, Kerman, Giraft, Najafabad, Shahin Shahr, Javanrood, Pasargad, Mashad, Sirjan, Poldokhtar, Ahwaz, Abadan, Khorramshahr, Behbahan, Mahshahr, Tabriz, Shiraz, Isfahan, Birjand, Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, Damavand,Sanandaj, Bandar Rig, Yazd, Babol, Rashrt, Urumia, Garmsar, Nishabour, Sagghez, Chabahar, Gachsaran, Zahedan, Fardisn Karaj, Ghazvin, Hamedan, Khorramabad and more cities.
Tens of thousands of angry people parked their vehicles on major roads and highways in protest at the price hikes.
Islamic Republic’s chief prosecutor, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, called the protestors “saboteurs” and warned they would face “severe punishment” if arrested. He has also alleged that “foreign powers” were behind the protests. Protesters are chanting “death to the dictator” against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
Iran’s Interior Minister Abdulreza Rahmani Fazli announced the sudden 300 percent increase in the price of gasoline was a decision by the country’s High Council for Economic Coordination, and the main reason was to generate revenue for the central government, which has lost billions of dollars of income due to the the reimposed international sanctions on oil exports.
The communication with Iran has been difficult due to the government shutdown of internet in order to prevent the flow of information through social media and the news of the protests and atrocities to the outside world. Few cities have also reported the closure of schools and universities.
Kaveh Mussawi, former Judge at the International Criminal Court in The Hague and Senior Judicial Council to IRAN TRANSITION COUNCIL, in his latest tweets wrote :
“Warning to the security forces: You are criminally responsibility for executing the illegal regime orders. Relieve yourselves and your families as soon as possible to save yourself and join the people. You are being identified. Major Jamshidi, Kalantari-Goldasht, as of today you are accused of killing.
Mr. State Minister, I warn you very clearly: you have a heavier penal punishment on your shoulders. I repeat, the claim “I enforced my country’s laws” is no longer a defense when that law is a symbol of crime and in violation of the international criminal laws and human rights treaties. I warned you!”
