A-Infos (en) UK, ACG: Simmering unrest in Iran (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

Over 5,000 oil workers on contract went out on strike in southern Iran 
at the South Pars refineries in the port city of Asaluyeh on Tuesday, 
Dec 9th, despite a heavy presence from State security forces, 
roadblocks, and threats from the authorities, including text messages 
---- Workers from 12 refineries marched on the Asaluyeh governor's 
office. This was one of the biggest workers' demonstrations in nearly 
fifty years. ---- "The awareness, solidarity, and resolve of Iran's 
working class, while independent organizing and collective resistance 
remain the only paths to securing workers' rights," the statement said.

At the same time, a three day strike began on nine onshore oilrigs and 
two offshore oil rigs of the North Drilling Company.

On December 10th,  there were coordinated demonstrations throughout 
Iran, the biggest being in the capital, Tehran. There, 1,000 contract 
workers in oil, gas and regional electricity massed outside parliament 
and demanded the  implementation of a job-status conversion plan 
approved nearly two years ago.  The regime has failed to enforce this, 
leaving contract workers without job security, benefits like holiday 
pay, and on low pay.

The clerical government was accused by workers of deliberately delaying 
the law. The demonstrators were joined by other workers from state 
institutions.

On the same day,  social welfare workers also demonstrated, saying that 
their pay no longer covers basic living costs.

 At the same time, telecommunications workers in Shiraz held a 
demonstration over months of unanswered demands for wage adjustments and 
job security.

Other signs of labour unrest included a three day strike of steelworkers 
in Shadegan. In Isfahan, municipal cleaners went on strike and refused 
to collect garbage to protest unpaid wages.

Earlier, in the city of Yasuj on December 4th, there were widespread 
protests at the time of the visit of Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian. 
These were led by women, and accusing the government's "water mafia" of 
being responsible for the destruction of the environment in the region.

Pensioners who had worked in the steel and mining industries 
demonstrated  on a mass scale on December 7th in Isfahan. They were 
protesting against the plundering of pension funds by  corrupt officials 
in the State administration.  They rejected  the regime's excuses for 
economic collapse, chanting ,"Our enemy is right here, they lie and say 
it's America." Pensioners also demonstrated at the same time in Shush.

Telecommunication pensioners demonstrated in Tehran on December 8th 
,blaming Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for the looting of 
telecommunications resources.

There were widespread demonstrations throughout Iran on December 14th, 
with students, pensioners, oil workers, and bakers taking to the 
streets. Students had gathered at Tehran University the previous 
evening, to protest over the administrations new welfare policies, which 
have resulted in soaring costs for food and accommodation.

The Sunday demonstrations affected Shush, Kermanshah, Isfahan, and 
Ahvaz, with pensioners and steel workers turning out  and slogans  of 
"Inflation and high prices are theft from the people's pockets." Perhaps 
these slogans were at the most radical in Ahvaz , with "No threat, no 
prison, no execution stops us," and "Death to managers, from Khuzestan 
to Tehran."

In Khuzestan, 1,500 contract workers at the North and South Azadegan oil 
fields demonstrated outside the governor's office, against 
privatisation, which they fear will lead to massive layoffs and loss of 
job security.

In the province of Fars, steel workers were on strike for the second 
day, and at Takab gold mine workers massed at the entrance of the mine 
with the banner "Enough is enough, we will no longer wait for the 
repetition of hollow promises." They demanded an end to wage 
discrimination and immediate payment of overdue benefits.

As can be seen, these protests by workers, pensioners and students 
seriously threaten the theocratic regime in Iran, and look towards 
drawing other sectors into struggle. This despite the threat of death 
sentences and severe repression by State forces. Let us hope that this 
unrest increases in volume and topples the murderous and corrupt regime.

https://www.anarchistcommunism.org/2025/12/19/simmering-unrest-in-iran/
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