Retirees, farmers, teachers, healthcare workers, environmental activists, and families of political prisoners unite in a sweeping wave of demonstrations.

A new wave of nationwide protests is sweeping across Iran, reflecting deepening anger over corruption, mismanagement, and the collapse of public services. Cities across the country have become the stage for forceful demonstrations by retirees, farmers, teachers, workers, and families of political prisoners who say they are fighting for their basic right to live.

In Kermanshah, a large gathering of retirees in front of the provincial retirement fund became one of the day’s most prominent protests. Chanting “Reformists, hardliners — you’ve dragged the country into ruin!” and “Your pain is our pain; people, join us!”, demonstrators expressed their fury at a system that has ignored their needs for years. Their presence highlighted the erosion of purchasing power, unpaid benefits, and the government’s persistent disregard for the elderly who rely on meager pensions to survive.

Farmers in Shahr-e Kord gathered outside the electricity department after water pumps were shut down, leaving their land dry and their crops destroyed. They condemned the government’s policies as a deliberate assault on their livelihoods. With no water, no electricity, and no official willing to respond, farmers described the situation as a visible collapse of Iran’s agricultural backbone.

Protests continued in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, where another group of farmers confronted authorities over ongoing neglect. The demonstration escalated amid growing public outrage, yet officials again offered no answers. The gathering underscored a broader sentiment shared across the region: communities can no longer tolerate the incompetence of state institutions.

In Rask, part-time teachers staged a powerful protest after months of broken promises. Many have gone without salaries or insurance, leaving classrooms understaffed. Their message was unequivocal: schools will not return to normal until justice is served. The protest doubled as a warning that Iran’s educational future is endangered by systemic neglect.

Healthcare workers in Arak assembled outside the University of Medical Sciences to demand fair payment of wages and bonuses. Nurses who sacrificed through years of crisis now say they face unclear formulas, incomplete payments, and empty pledges. Their protest signaled deep frustration within a sector essential to public safety yet repeatedly dismissed by authorities.

In southern Kerman, farmers protested outside the agricultural ministry, demanding fuel for their greenhouses. With gas lines unfinished and engineering authorities ignoring them, the demonstration became another emblem of institutional collapse. Protesters said the situation reflected a wider pattern: decisions are made without planning, and consequences fall solely on the public.

Residents of Golestan also rallied in front of a cement factory to denounce the destruction of Hyrcanian forests by state-backed projects. Their protest accused officials of complicity in environmental devastation and highlighted widespread fear that one of Iran’s oldest natural treasures is vanishing under government-sanctioned exploitation.

Workers in Kut-e Abdollah held their own protest after a contractor deducted part of their already meager wages without explanation. Many juggle multiple jobs and still go unpaid. Their demonstration was a direct response to systemic worker exploitation and the widening economic crisis.

Back in Kermanshah, residents of the Mehr Housing project once again gathered to demand the homes they were promised sixteen years ago but never received. Their protest represented ongoing frustration with economic pressure, political negligence, and the government’s refusal to deliver even on its most basic commitments.

Families of political prisoners also joined the weekly “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, marking its 96th week. Holding signs that read “No to execution” and photos of their loved ones, the families stood in solidarity with a growing anti-execution movement that has persisted despite state intimidation.

In Moghan, farmers demonstrated to demand two years’ worth of unpaid corn payments after the agricultural minister failed to deliver on his deadline. Their protest highlighted widespread anger over broken promises and financial hardship.

At the J Copper Mine, workers protested after going four to six months without pay. Fifty miners labor in extremely harsh conditions, yet their wages remain overdue. Their demonstration underscored the chronic injustice built into Iran’s labor system.

Together, these protests reveal a country where citizens from all walks of life are rising to confront a regime they say has failed them. From pensions to agriculture, education to healthcare, wages to environmental survival, the message is the same: people will no longer remain silent in the face of corruption, deprivation, and systemic neglect.

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