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Employees of the Agricultural Jihad Ministry rally in Ilam on March 16, 2025, protesting extremely low wages amid nationwide demonstrations
On March 16, widespread protests swept across various cities in Iran, highlighting public anger and frustration with poverty, inflation, corruption, and ineffective governance. Retirees, workers, villagers, and various social groups took to the streets and gathered outside government offices to demand their basic rights. Demonstrations spanning from Gilan to Khuzestan and from Isfahan to Golestan underscored the widespread nature of public dissatisfaction with living conditions and governmental neglect.
In Ahvaz, southern Iran, retirees from the steel industry rallied against unfair policies on pension adjustments, condemning authorities for failing to match pensions to rising living costs. Concurrently, Social Security Organization retirees in Ahvaz protested inadequate pensions and poor living conditions, chanting slogans like “Neither Parliament nor government thinks about the people” and “The enemy is here, they lie when they say it’s America.”
Social Security retirees in Shush, southern Iran, marched and rallied outside their local parliamentary representative’s office, denouncing poverty, inflation, corruption, and discrimination. Demonstrators shouted powerful slogans such as “One less embezzlement would solve our problems” and “Iran with vast wealth, what happened to you?”
March 16—Shush, southwest Iran
Retirees of the Social Security Organization hold protest rally, reiterating their demands for higher pensions and basic services.
"From Khuzestan to Tehran, officials are disgraceful," protesters chant.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/cVFx7TZoeq
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) March 16, 2025
In Gachsaran, southwestern Iran, contract workers from the Oil and Gas Company initiated a new round of protests, condemning job insecurity, discrimination, and substandard working conditions. Their protest demonstrates growing unrest in critical sectors of Iran’s economy.
Retirees from Isfahan‘s mining and steel industries also staged demonstrations to protest extremely low pensions. Their resolve was captured in chants like “Don’t think we are old, we will claim our rights” and “Only in the streets can we achieve our rights.”
Villagers from Kamar Kuh in Zanjan Province protested in front of the provincial governorate office, citing prolonged water shortages and outages as evidence of governmental failure to address basic human needs.
In Rasht, northern Iran, retirees from the Social Security Organization protested against poverty, misery, and corruption, highlighting their grievances through slogans such as “Imprisoned teachers, imprisoned workers must be freed,” signaling widespread dissatisfaction with governmental incompetence and corruption.
In Khuzestan, southern Iran, retirees from the steel industry expressed their discontent by signing a collective petition outside the pension fund office, demonstrating their determination to pursue their rights persistently.
March 16—Zanjan, northwest Iran
Residents of Kamar Kuh village rally in front of the provincial governorate, protesting water outages and shortage. #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/NAyeNlyUbz
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) March 16, 2025
In Mashhad, northeastern Iran, residents and activists formed a human chain in protest against illegal land appropriation by local authorities. A local environmental group leader criticized city officials, stating, “Every time the city council or governor changes, profiteers rush into these areas.”
Radiology personnel in Gorgan, northern Iran, also protested unfair labor practices, demanding overdue benefits and fair regulations on overtime pay, highlighting ongoing neglect in the healthcare sector.
Today’s extensive protests across cities from Racht to Mashhad and Ahvaz to Gachsaran demonstrate the regime’s failure to address public welfare and living standards. Public outrage is fueled by worsening poverty, corruption, and economic inequality, coupled with the regime’s blatant disregard for legitimate public demands. The protesters’ slogans indicate a profound loss of trust in state institutions and empty promises, signaling that substantial change can only come through the people’s determination and action.