Social Security Retirees Protest in Shush and Rasht
Students Protest in 15 Cities
Poultry Sellers in Sanandaj
Dismissed Workers of Pars Steel Sistan
Faculty Members of Kurdistan University
Pre-Hospital Emergency Personnel in Iranshahr
Students of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences
Social Security Retirees Rally in Shush and Rasht
Today, Sunday, June 7, a group of Social Security retirees from Shush, Karkheh, and Haft Tappeh held a protest march and rally in front of the Social Security Organization building in Shush, protesting their worsening living conditions and the authorities’ failure to respond to their demands. Social Security retirees in Rasht also staged a gathering.
The retirees are demanding pension increases that would provide at least a minimum standard of human living. Their demands include higher benefits, the restoration of survivors’ benefits, implementation of the law in the 2026 pension rulings, ending government and SHASTA control over the pension fund and stopping its misuse, and payment of the government’s debt to the Social Security Organization.
Retirees are calling for pensions to be raised above the estimated 700-million-rial living-cost basket and for free healthcare.
During the protest, retirees chanted:
- “A country with high revenues—what has happened to you?”
- “Their slogan is Hussein, Hussein—but their work is lies and theft.”
- “Retirees, rise up against discrimination.”
- “High prices and inflation are the scourge of the people.”
- “Half-paid wages—if you stay silent, this is what you get.”
- “We will not live under oppression; we will sacrifice our lives for freedom. Death to this slavery!”
Student Protests Simultaneously in More Than 15 Cities
Student protests are expanding. On June 6, students staged demonstrations in at least 15 cities in protest against educational policies, inequality, and top-down decisions made without the participation of students or teachers. The cities included Tehran, Isfahan, Karaj, Khorramabad, Arak, Shiraz, Kermanshah, Tabriz, Mashhad, Birjand, Qom, Sari, Bojnord, Kerman, Yasuj, and others.
In previous days, student protests were also held in several of these cities, as well as in Hamadan, Rasht, and Khorramabad. Many students’ families have joined and supported these protests.
These student demonstrations are described as the most significant protest development in Iran since the 39-day war period and the subsequent internet blackouts.
Students chanted slogans including:
- “Do not be afraid, we are all together.”
- “Our voices are not heard through letters.”
- “Incompetent officials, resign!”
- “We have heard many promises, but seen no justice.”
- “Students, raise your voices and demand your rights.”
- “Students may die, but they will not accept humiliation.”
- “We have heard many slogans, but seen no results.”
The Worker-Communist Party expressed strong support for the student protests and called on all sectors of society, especially teachers and students’ families, to support the students and their demands.
Protest by Market Traders and Poultry Sellers in Sanandaj
On Saturday, June 6, a large number of market traders and poultry sellers in Sanandaj went on strike and closed their shops in protest against the economic crisis, soaring prices, and runaway inflation.
The poultry sellers cited severe livelihood difficulties, tax pressures, and a lack of government support, demanding immediate action to address market conditions and control inflation.
According to the protesters, current conditions have not only pushed small businesses into crisis but have also made it extremely difficult for large segments of the population—especially low-income families, the elderly, and children—to meet even their most basic needs.
Protest by Dismissed Workers of Pars Steel Sistan
On June 7, a group of workers from the Pars Steel Sistan factory held a protest over job insecurity and dismissals, demanding reinstatement.
According to the workers, despite repeated follow-ups, they have not received their final settlements and their claims remain unpaid. When they approached the Social Security Organization to apply for unemployment benefits after being dismissed, they were informed that their employment status had been recorded as “suspended” rather than terminated, making them ineligible for unemployment insurance payments.
The workers’ immediate demands are unemployment benefits sufficient to ensure a humane standard of living and reinstatement to their jobs.
Protest Ultimatum by Faculty Members of Kurdistan University
In recent days, the Faculty Council of Kurdistan University held a meeting with academic staff and issued an ultimatum to the authorities, stating that if their demands were not addressed by Saturday, June 6, they would begin strike action.
Part of their statement reads:
“Given the prolonged delay in implementing legally issued salary rulings approved in March 2026, the intensification of comprehensive pressures on faculty members, and the weakening and humiliation of the university institution and its status, the faculty members of Kurdistan University emphasize their legitimate legal demands and call for the finalization and implementation of these rulings no later than June 6, 2026. … It should be noted that if this situation continues, final examinations for the current semester will also be suspended.”
Protest by Pre-Hospital Emergency Personnel in Iranshahr
According to reports published on June 5, pre-hospital emergency personnel in Iranshahr publicly expressed their anger and dissatisfaction over years of unpaid wages and benefits, livelihood difficulties, and threats of dismissal.
According to these workers, a substantial portion of their claims has remained unpaid for two to three years, and no clear timetable has been provided for settling these debts.
Their unpaid claims include clothing allowances, meal allowances, housing assistance, performance bonuses, overtime pay, and work-mission compensation, some of which have remained unpaid for several years.
Bushehr Medical University Students Protest Poor Food Quality
On June 5, students at Bushehr University of Medical Sciences expressed their dissatisfaction and protest through a hunger strike in response to poor food quality, sanitary problems, and the university administration’s lack of attention to their concerns.