From March 28 to 31, citizens in Iran held at least 18 rallies and protests in various cities despite the national holidays of Nowruz, the new year in the Persian Calendar. The continuation of protests shows society’s distrust in the ruling system and its apparatuses.
This hatred was also seen in countrywide protests against the regime’s 25-year deal with China, which afforded uncountable privileges to a foreign power in exchange for improving Iran’s oppressive systems. In this regard, the people flooded onto the streets in at least ten cities, venting their anger over the officials’ shameful contract.
On the other hand, farmers, merchants, water staff, landowners, teachers, municipal workers, sweepers, and Haft-Tappeh workers staged eight protests and strike in various cities. Southern Iranian provinces like Khuzestan and Hormozgan had the lion’s share of the protests.
Onion Farmers’ Protest
Kerman province—on Sunday, March 28, farmers in Menujan county blocked the transit road, protesting the government for failing to support and purchase their products.
Previously, protesters had issued warnings about their dire conditions, but officials turned a blind eye to farmers’ suffering and hardship. Specifically, farmers called on the Agriculture and Rural Cooperative Office to solve their dilemmas. However, the office did nothing, leading farmers to show their anger in this way.
#IranProtests on #Nowruz
Kerman—"Farmers rallied and blocked the international road, protesting the low price of onion," said a protester.
Protesters vent their anger over officials' indifference to their dilemmas with blocking the transit road. pic.twitter.com/OGbuZHOxUW— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) March 31, 2021
In recent weeks, several officials, including the Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, traveled to this area, giving hollow promises to improve farmers’ living and working conditions. But the promises remained only on paper and were not materialized on the ground.
“Today, March 28, Menujan’s farmers gathered and blocked the international road due to the low price of onion,” said a protester.
Merchants’ Protest
Hormozgan province—on Sunday, March 28, merchants in Minab county held a rally, protesting the local municipality for blocking the Bazaar’s entrance gates.
#IranProtests in #Nowruz
Hormozgan—merchants in Minab protested the municipality's mismanagement by constructing a new pavement and blocking alleys.
The municipality's new plans have created numerous dilemmas about transferring goods and cargos into the Bazaar. pic.twitter.com/ZxMw5tgoWV— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) March 31, 2021
Protesters gathered at the new-constructed pavement, which has limited people’s vehicles to commute. It also created several problems for transferring cargos and foods into the Bazaar. Merchants declared their protest against the pavement plan and blocking alleys and ways leading up to the Bazaar.
Rally of Water Staff
Khuzestan province—on Monday, March 29, former staff of the rural sector of Water and Sewage Organization held a rally in front of the Provincial Governorate in Ahvaz, the province’s capital.
#IranProtests in #Nowruz
Khuzestan—former staff of Ahvaz's Water & Sewage Organization rallied in front of the Provincial Governorate, protesting officials' failure to pay their overdue salaries and insurance rights. pic.twitter.com/u1R8ecC3Vf— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) March 31, 2021
They protested officials for failing to pay their overdue salaries and clarify their recruitment conditions.
“Former staff of rural sector of the Water and Sewage Organization:
–Five months without salaries
–Nine months without any kind of medical insurances
–Twenty months without insurance rights
–Unclear condition of contracts
Khuzestan Governor Qassem Soleimani Dashtaki, aid our families,” protesters had written on a banner.
Rally of Landowners
West Azarbaijan province—on Monday, March 29, landowners in Miandoab [Qushachay] held a rally at the Jahad-e Nasr and Jahad-e Keshavarzi lands, protesting officials’ refusal to issue construction licenses.
#IranProtests in #Nowruz
West Azarbaijan—landowners in Miandoab rallied at their properties in Jahad-e Nasr and Jahad-e Keshavarzi lands, protesting officials’ refusal to issue construction licenses. pic.twitter.com/ffaUAQTbV2— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) March 31, 2021
These lands are beside the Fatemeh al-Zahra hospital. “In recent years, the municipality has received money on several occasions to follow up the issue. However, it has yet to respond to landowners,” said protesters.
Rally of Teachers
Yazd province—on Monday, March 29, college-graduated teachers held a rally in front of the Provincial Department of Education in Yazd, the province’s capital.
#IranProtests in #Nowruz
Yazd—college-graduated teachers rallied in front of the Provincial Education Department, protesting officials for removing their experience wage and creating additional financial dilemmas. pic.twitter.com/7Pj4VRpqNv— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) March 31, 2021
They protested officials for removing their experience wage and creating additional financial dilemmas. Notably, in recent months, contract teachers, preschool educators, and the literacy movement members staged several gatherings, protesting officials’ failure to recognize their inherent rights.
Countrywide Protests against 25-Year Deal with China
On Monday, March 29, many people in different cities took to the streets following the sign of a 25-year deal between Iran and China. Outraged people held rallies and marched in Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, Tabriz, Rasht, Behbahan, Kermanshah, Ghorveh, Kazeroun, and Mashhad.
In Tehran, protesters rallied in front of the Majlis, chanting, “Iran is not for sale” and “We will struggle and take back Iran.” They also marched on the streets, showing their ire against the treacherous contract.
#IranProtests in #Nowruz
Dozens of people in Iran flooded onto the streets protesting officials for putting national resources and properties on auction in a treacherous 25-year contract with #China.
Video shows protests in Tehran, in front of the Parliament, and in Karaj city. pic.twitter.com/JG32PM2lN4— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) March 29, 2021
“The clerical regime auctions the Iranian people’s assets and resources in a 25-year contract with China to preserve power,” stated the Iranian opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
The statement also quoted NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi’s message as saying, “The lives and health of Iranians, their water and land, and their culture and national resources are worthless to Khamenei, Rouhani, and other regime leaders. The mullahs only think of preserving their own religious fascist dictatorship.”
Rally of Municipal Workers
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province—on Wednesday, March 31, municipal workers in the Charam district held a rally in front of the local municipality.
#IranProtests in #Nowruz
Kohgiluyeh & Boyer Ahmad—municipal workers in the Charam district rallied in front of the local municipality, protesting officials' failure to pay their arrears. They blamed Mayor Ali Nouri for corruption and plundering policies. pic.twitter.com/lLcOCICJg5— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) March 31, 2021
They protested officials, particularly Mayor Ali Nouri, for failing to pay their overdue salaries. They specifically blamed Nouri for his corruption cases and plundering policies.
Rally of Sweepers
Khuzestan province—on Wednesday, March 31, sweepers of the Kut Abdollah municipality in Ahvaz, the province’s capital, held a rally in front of the Provincial Governorate.
#IranProtests in #Nowruz
Khuzestan—sweepers of the Kut Abdollah municipality in Ahvaz rallied in front of the Provincial Governorate, protesting officials’ failure to pay their salaries for four months. They also blamed officials for ignoring to pay workers’ Nowruz bonus. pic.twitter.com/njPUtmFT7R— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) March 31, 2021
They protested officials’ failure to pay their salaries for four months. They also blamed officials for ignoring to pay workers’ Nowruz bonuses.
Haft-Tappeh Workers’ Strike
Khuzestan province—on Wednesday, March 31, for the fifth day in a row, pest control workers of Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Complex stopped working and rallied in front of the complex.
#IranProtests in #Nowruz
Khuzestan—pest control workers of Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Complex stopped working and rallied in front of the complex for the fifth consecutive day. pic.twitter.com/nAadmrem9e— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) March 31, 2021
This is the first strike in the new year of the 1400 Persian calendar. They urged their co-workers to join them and take place in the gathering.
Furthermore, other workers expressed their anger over reducing contracts’ terms, arbitrary dismissals, and the government’s refusal to return the complex from the private sector to the public sector.