On Sunday, February 28, citizens in Iran held at least 30 rallies and protests, blaming officials’ failure to meet their inherent demands. Furthermore, Iranian Baluch citizens continued their protests for the seventh day in a row, which received warm support from the people inside the country and abroad.

Iranians Continue Protests; at Least 30 Rallies and Strikes on February 28

On the other hand, pensioners and retirees held rallies and marches in 26 cities across the country, blaming officials for failing to keep their promises.

Furthermore, teachers, workers, and landowners staged three other protests in Tehran and Razavi Khorasan provinces. They blamed the regime’s plundering and profiteering policies, which looted people’s meager properties and led them to poverty and misery.

Saravan Protests, Day 7—Iranians continue protests on February 28
Saravan Protests, Day 7—Iranians continue protests on February 28

Saravan Protests, Day 7

Sistan and Baluchestan province—despite the deployment of oppressive forces, including the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), to Saravan and other cities, Iranian Baluch people continued their protests. According to the Iranian opposition coalition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), protests have been going on in various cities across the province.

“On Saturday night, rebellious youths blocked the Zahak transit highway in Zabul to prevent the movement of the repressive forces. They were chanting, ‘Down to Khamenei, down to the Revolutionary Guards,’” the NCRI stated, adding, “The same day, the Baluchi youths set tires on fire, closing the Bahou-Kalat highway to Chabahar. They also blocked the Jask-Chabahar highway in the Karavan region by setting fire to tires.”

Furthermore, Netblocks, the cybersecurity and Internet’s governance monitoring watchdog, also reported significant disruption of the internet amidst the Saravan protests.

Earlier, on February 26, NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi hailed the Iranian Baluch protesters, describing recent protests as an uprising belonging to all the people of Iran. “Hail to the arisen people of Zahedan, Iranshahr, Khash, and the courageous youths of Karimabad, Shirabad, Ghal’ebid, and other regions of Sistan and Baluchestan. The uprising of our Baluchi compatriots belongs to all the people of Iran,” she tweeted.

Moreover, Iranian people from different walks of life declared their solidarity with protesters in Saravan and other cities. Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) also announced their support for the demonstrators and condemned the regime’s suppression through anti-establishment activities.

Nationwide Solidarity with Saravan Protests – February 24-25

According to the PMOI/MEK, citizens in the provinces of Razavi Khorasan, Alborz, Isfahan, Gilan, Western Azarbaijan, Tehran, and Zanjan provinces showed their solidarity with protesters in Saravan.

Countrywide Protests of Retirees and Pensioners—Iranians continue protests on February 28
Countrywide Protests of Retirees and Pensioners—Iranians continue protests on February 28

Countrywide Protests of Retirees and Pensioners

For the sixth time in the past two months, retirees, pensioners, and welfare recipients affiliated with the Social Security Organization rallied in Tehran and 25 other cities in 21 provinces. They staged their gatherings in front of the organizations’ representations and Provincial Governorates, protesting officials’ failure to follow up their demands.

In Tehran, pensioners rallied in front of the Social Security Organization, then marched toward the Planning and Budget Organization. Protesters expressed their anger over terrible living conditions, high prices, and officials’ indifference. “Retirees and pensioners have now joined the poor sectors of society as a result of the clerical regime’s plundering policies,” stated the NCRI.

“In addition to Tehran, retirees in Ahvaz, Yazd, Tabriz, Kermanshah, Zanjan, Arak, Ilam, Khorramabad, Karaj, Ardabil, Mashhad, Isfahan, Rasht, Sanandaj, Shiraz, Bojnurd, Qazvin, Neyshabur, Shahroud, Shooshtar, Shush, Kerman, Sari, Dezful, and Abadan also held protest gatherings in front of local Social Security Organization or governate,” the statement added.

According to the PMOI/MEK, in Tehran, protesters moved toward the Budget and Planning Organization while chanting slogans, “We will only get back our rights on the streets,” “Yesterday’s toilers are today’s protesters,” “Our main demand, salaries adjusted for inflation,” “Our salaries are paid in rials, our expenses are in dollars,” “We have nothing, you are living in luxury,” “No nation has seen such injustice.”

Mrs. Rajavi saluted the deprived and defiant retirees, saying that as long as this corrupt and plundering regime is in power, poverty, discrimination, inflation, high prices and unemployment will continue and intensify.

“Their chants of ‘our baskets are empty, enough with oppression’ and ‘we can gain our rights only by taking to the streets’ echo the cries of all the people of Iran who are fed up with poverty and the mullahs’ evil rule,” she tweeted.

Rally of Teachers—Iranians continue protests on February 28
Rally of Teachers—Iranians continue protests on February 28

Rally of Teachers

Tehran province—a group of teachers, who had been dispatched to other countries, held a rally in front of the Education Ministry. They protested officials’ failure to meet their demands.

“We would never give in until obtaining our rights” and “[Deputy Education Minister in Planning and Improving Resources Ali] Allahyar, shame on you, and let go of the ministry,” protesters chanted.

Rally of Mashhad-Mal Staff—Iranians continue protests on February 28
Rally of Mashhad-Mal Staff—Iranians continue protests on February 28

Rally of Mashhad-Mal Staff

Razavi Khorasan province—a group of workers, staff, and contractors affiliated with the Mashhad-Mal project held a gathering in front of the Ayandeh Bank in Golriz Crossroad. They protested officials’ failure to pay their salaries for four months, in addition to their privileges and severance rights.

Notably, Ali Ansari, a billionaire copartner to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s second son Mojtaba, is the owner of the Mashhad-Mal project and Ayandeh Bank. Currently, disputes between the managing board’s members led to a halt to the project and delay in paying staff’s wages.

At the end of the rally, a security agent personnel from inside the bank attacked protesters while they were collecting their banners. Protesters pushed back against the agent, however, he violently dealt with them.

Rally of Landowners—Iranians continue protests on February 28
Rally of Landowners—Iranians continue protests on February 28

Rally of Landowners

Tehran province—landowners of Tehran Electricity’s Housing Cooperative in Hashtgerd district held a rally and marched in front of the office. They protested officials’ failure to deliver their lands and its illegal sale to other individuals.

They officially purchased land from the Housing Cooperative of Tehran’s Electricity Office in Phase-5 of Hashtgerd District. According to protesters, these trades had officially been registered through the Registration’s Secretariat. However, the office has yet to deliver these properties after several months.

Recently, customers realized that the Electricity Office had illegally sold the lands to some individuals. Furthermore, the cooperative seemingly has a problem with other bureaus over these plots of land, and it had sold controversial hectares of the land to members of the Electricity Office’s Housing Cooperative.

Iranians Continue Protests; at Least Six Rallies and Strikes on February 24

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