On Sunday, February 21, citizens in Iran held at least 26 rallies and protests in various cities, including nationwide rallies and marches of retirees and pensioners affiliated with the Social Security Organization in 20 cities across 16 provinces.

They vented their anger over the regime’s failure to follow up their demands despite their ongoing protests and rallies in recent weeks. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), saluted the deprived retirees who have risen up to obtain their rights.

Iranians Continue Protests; at Least 26 Rallies and Strikes on February 21

Furthermore, contract teachers, retirees of the Steel and Mine Industry in Isfahan, and public schools’ janitors held their gatherings in front of the Parliament (Majlis), showing their despair over the regime in its entirety.

HEPCO workers also gathered once again and carried the company’s coffin symbolically as a sign of their ire about the regime’s failure to settle the company’s debts and resume the production cycle.

In Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, earthquake-stricken people protested the regime’s failure to resolve their basic dilemmas in parallel with the judiciary chief’s publicity visit to quake-hit areas.

Additionally, emergency and contract medical staff in the holy city of Mashhad, the capital of the northeastern province of Razavi Khorasan, rallied at the Medical Sciences University’s site, blaming officials for failing to improve their living conditions despite their selfless function during the Covid-19 era.

Countrywide Rally of Retirees—Iranians continue protests on February 22
Countrywide Rally of Retirees—Iranians continue protests on February 22

Countrywide Rally of Retirees

Despite the regime’s oppressive measures, threats, and hollow words, retirees, pensioners, and welfare recipients affiliated with the Social Security Organization once again rallied in Tehran and 19 other cities across Iran. They protested inflation, unbearably high prices, and low retirement benefits.

They reiterated their demands for adjusting their salaries and pensions based on the inflation rate. “We will not rest until we get our rights,” “Only by taking to the streets could we gain our rights,” “We are tired of the injustice,” “Our country sits on rich resources, but the retirees are suffering,” “The gatherings will continue until we reach our goals,” “The poverty line is 12 million rials, our salary is 2 million rials,” and “Our enemy is right here, they lie when they claim it’s America,” they chanted.

Iranians Continue Protests; at Least Six Rallies and Strikes on February 14

In addition to Tehran, protesters rallied in the cities of Tabriz, Eastern Azarbaijan province; Arak, Markazi province; Isfahan, Isfahan province; Rasht, Gilan province; Mashhad and Neyshabur, Razavi Khorasan province;  Kermanshah, Kermanshah province; Ahvaz, Shushtar, Dezful, Shush, and Haft-Tappeh, Khuzestan province; Yazd, Yazd province; Khorramabad, Lorestan province; Ilam, Ilam province; Qazvin, Qazvin province; Karaj, Alborz province; Bojnurd, South Khorasan province; Sari, Mazandaran province; and Ardabil, Ardabil province.

In Tehran, demonstrators marched towards the ‘Organization of Planning and Budget,’ chanting slogans and expressing their anger at the authorities’ failure to address their legitimate demands. “This rally was a warning to let officials know that we will not always gather here and stand and chant … next time it will not be like this!” said a protester.

In Mashhad city, the capital of the northeastern province of Razavi Khorasan, retirees affiliated with the Social Security Organization rallied in front of the organization’s representation, chanting, “We want our rights, and we will obtain our rights.”

Also, in Neyshabur city, Razavi Khorasan province, pensioners rallied in front of the local representation, protesting officials’ failure to meet their demands. “Imprudent official, resign, resign,” protesters chanted.

In Ahvaz, the capital of the southwestern province of Khuzestan, Social Security Organization retirees rallied in front of the organization’s general office. “Tyranny is enough, our food baskets are empty,” “Thieves have stolen retirees’ fund,” and “Our Lord, eradicate tyranny,” they chanted.

In the cities of Shush and Haft-Tappeh, Khuzestan province, retirees of the Social Security Organization marched on the streets, chanting, “[Organization CEO Mostafa] Salari, shame on you, and let go of the organization” and “Our country sits on treasure, but retirees suffer.”

Also, in Dezful city, Khuzestan province, retirees rallied in front of the local representation, protesting officials’ failure to follow up their demands.

In the northern province of Mazandaran, retirees and welfare recipients gathered in front of the local representation in Sari city, protesting low-value pensions and officials’ failure to balance pensions with the inflation rate. “Promises are enough, our food baskets are empty,” they chanted.

In Bojnourd city, the capital of the northeastern province of South Khorasan, retirees and pensioners rallied in front of the local representation, protesting officials’ failure to meet retirees demands.

In Alborz province, west of Tehran, retirees and pension-recipients affiliated with the Social Security Organization rallied in front of the local representation in Karaj city, the province’s capital, protesting officials’ failure to follow up protesters’ demands.

In Isfahan province, central Iran, retirees gathered in front of the local representation, pursuing their demands. “Increasing salaries and pensions based on actual living expenses is the retirees’ definite right,” protesters had written on banners.

In the northwestern province of Eastern Azarbaijan, pensioners rallied in front of the organization’s representation in Tabriz city, the province’s capital, protesting officials’ failure to meet their demands.

In Yazd province, southeast of Tehran, retirees gathered in front of the local representation, blaming officials for failing to meet their demands.

In the western province of Ilam, retirees and pensioners rallied in front of the local representation, protesting officials’ failure to follow up their demands.

In Lorestan province, pensioners gathered in front of the local representation in Khorramabad city, the province’s capital, protesting officials’ failure to follow up their demands.

NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi saluted the deprived retirees who have risen up and protested to obtain their rights and said that as long as this corrupt and plundering regime is in power, poverty, discrimination, inflation, high prices and unemployment will continue and intensify.

Rally of Contract Teachers—Iranians continue protests on February 22
Rally of Contract Teachers—Iranians continue protests on February 22

Rally of Contract Teachers

Tehran province—contract teachers held a rally in front of the Majlis. They protested officials’ failure to meet their demands.

In recent weeks, contract teachers, as well as trainers, preschool educators, and teachers affiliated with the Literacy Movement have gathered several times in front of the Majlis and education departments in different cities.

Rally of Steel and Mine Industry Retirees—Iranians continue protests on February 22
Rally of Steel and Mine Industry Retirees—Iranians continue protests on February 22

Rally of Steel and Mine Industry Retirees

Tehran province—retirees affiliated with the Steel and Mine Industry in Isfahan province held a gathering in front of the Majlis. They blamed officials for failing to follow up their demands.

Protesters criticized officials for not implementing articles of the budget bill. According to Article 7 of the bill, officials must pay retirees’ salaries and insurance rights. However, the government refrains from applying its own law.

Rally of Janitors—Iranians continue protests on February 22
Rally of Janitors—Iranians continue protests on February 22

Rally of Janitors

Tehran province—janitors of public schools held a rally in front of the Majlis, protesting officials’ failure to meet their demands.

In recent weeks, janitors have several times gathered in front of the Majlis. However, the government has yet to follow up their demands, adding salt to these people’s injuries.

Rally of HEPCO Workers—Iranians continue protests on February 22
Rally of HEPCO Workers—Iranians continue protests on February 22

Rally of HEPCO Workers

Markazi province—a group of HEPCO workers in Arak symbolically held a funeral for the company and carried out the HEPCO’s coffin. They had gathered downtown near the Social Security Organization.

Workers protested officials’ failure to keep their promises. They also criticized the government for failing to resolve the company’s debts’ dilemmas and to create a production boom.

“In recent months and weeks, our discussions and demands obtained nothing. All the doors are still locked, and the debts’ problems have yet to resolve. Our efforts achieved no outcome despite our representatives’ trip to Tehran and their meetings with relevant officials,” protesters said.

“We have yet to receive our salaries since late December 2020. Moreover, we did not receive our wage benefits before. We are concerned about the production’s future. We are fed up with unkept promises,” workers added.

Quake-Stricken People’s Protests—Iranians continue protests on February 22
Quake-Stricken People’s Protests—Iranians continue protests on February 22

Quake-Stricken People’s Protests

Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province—earthquake-stricken residents of Sisakht city protested officials’ failure to resolve their dilemmas after several days. In tandem with judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to the quake-hit regions, the people expressed their anger at the regime’s inaction and imprudence.

These people have almost lost their all belongings and properties. They have no shelter and suffer from cold and rainy weather. “Come and look, we do not even have one blanket. No one pays attention to us. We have been in cold-temperature weather for four days, but no one came to see to our condition,” said a protester.

Rally of Emergency and Medical Staff—Iranians continue protests on February 22
Rally of Emergency and Medical Staff—Iranians continue protests on February 22

Rally of Emergency and Medical Staff

Razavi Khorasan province—a group of emergency sector staff and contract healthcare workers staged a gathering at Mashhad Medical Sciences University’s yard.

They protested officials’ failure to implement their approved rules, such as the law for upgrading exploitation. Despite the country’s greatest health crisis, the regime still refrains from allocating adequate budget to these selfless people.

The regime’s horrible performance meets enormous dilemmas for healthcare workers amidst the coronavirus outbreak. “Extraordinary pensions are our rights” and “We are medical staff either contract or officially,” chanted protesters in their rally.

Iranians Continue Protests; at Least Ten Rallies and Strikes on February 17