As Iran faces deteriorating economic conditions, anti-government protests have erupted across the country, protesting ongoing power shortages and food price hikes.
In Dehdasht, located in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, locals gathered for the third night in a row on Tuesday, chanting slogans aimed at the Supreme Leader, including "Death to the dictator" and "This year is the year of blood, Khamenei will be overthrown."
While government-affiliated media attempted to portray the unrest in Dehdasht as tribal conflicts, videos of the protests sent to Iran International reveal a focus on economic issues.
In response, authorities have conducted arrests, detaining at least six protesters, including two women, on Tuesday evening. In the preceding two nights, four more protesters had also been apprehended.
Iran International has identified five of the detainees as Atefeh Tahernia, Jaber Foroughi, Kamran Bouzari, Amirhossein Jafari, and Pouria Barati.
Special security forces were also deployed to Dehdasht on Wednesday morning to suppress further unrest, according to locals.
According to some posts on X, the youth of Dehdasht have called for continued protests and urged neighboring regions to join them, saying that "silence in the face of oppression is betrayal."
According to some posts on X, the youth of Dehdasht have called for continued protests, urging neighboring cities and regions to join the uprising, saying that "silence in the face of oppression is betrayal."
The protests coincide with the anniversary of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, a time marked this year by economic instability. The national currency recently reached a record low, with the US dollar valued at 940,000 rials before experiencing a small rebound.
Key items like rice, dairy products, and oil have experienced price increases of as much as 110% in the last year, intensifying the financial pressure on families.
Protests have also erupted in capital Tehran, where power outages have prompted night-time chants against the Islamic Republic.
On Tuesday, widespread blackouts in the capital were attributed to high gas consumption and limited supplies, forcing school, government offices closures across most of the provinces.
Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf have praised Khamenei’s rejection of negotiations with the United States during recent 1979 Revolution anniversary celebrations.