One important aspect of the ongoing social protests in Iran is the struggle over livelihoods, with different groups of workers protesting on a daily basis. Retirees, in particular, have continuously protested against their dire living conditions.
Today, on July 26, Social Security retirees in Shush, Ahvaz, Rasht, Kermanshah, and Tehran staged rallies and marches to protest severe economic hardship, the government’s warmongering policies, and the widespread corruption and looting carried out by those in power. During today’s demonstrations, retirees also raised their voices against the use of the death penalty.
In Kermanshah, retirees from various sectors gathered together, chanting slogans such as: “We will stand against death sentences until the end,” “From Isfahan to Tehran, against death penalty,” “Unity, unity, against poverty and corruption,” and “Enrich life—welfare, happiness, and freedom.” Through these slogans, they expressed solidarity with the prisoners of Ghezel Hesar Prison, the ongoing movement against executions, and the broader struggle against poverty, oppression, and the government’s warmongering policies.
During the rally, one retired participant spoke passionately about the overwhelming burden of hardships, the stripping of people’s dignity and peace of mind, and the urgent need for nationwide solidarity. He declared:
“We were born to live—to have dignity and worth, not merely to survive at any cost…”
His remarks were met with applause and further protest chants from the crowd.
In Ahvaz, despite the scorching summer heat, retirees gathered and chanted:
- “Livelihood, dignity, free healthcare—our undeniable right!”
- “Bread is expensive, medicine is expensive—we long for even a single bite of bread.”
- “Only in the streets can we win our rights.”
In Tehran, retirees held another demonstration in addition to issuing an earlier statement condemning economic hardship and the increasing use of executions. Their slogans included:
- “No to executions! No to executions! No to executions!”
- “Our wages are paid in rials, but our expenses are in dollars.”
- “Government retirees, military retirees, Social Security retirees—unity, unity!”
- “Freedom and justice are our undeniable rights.”
- “Imprisoned workers, imprisoned teachers—they must be freed.”
In Rasht, retirees responded to calls for a protest against executions, expressing solidarity with the “Tuesdays Against Executions” campaign and the striking prisoners of Ghezel Hesar Prison.
In Shush, retirees from cities Karkheh, Haft Tappeh, Shush, and a number of retirees from Dezful city held a rally and march, chanting:
- “Retirees, rise up! End discrimination!”
The gathering in Shush also featured passionate protest speeches, creating a powerful atmosphere of resistance.
Other slogans heard in protests across different cities included:
- “state retirees, military retirees, Social Security retirees—unity, unity!”
- “Iran the wealthy country!—what have incompetent officials done to you?”
- “Unemployment and inflation are devastating the people.”
- “Inflation, high prices—no to war and destruction.”
- “Endless oppression and injustice have driven us into the streets.”
- “Unity, unity, against poverty and corruption.”
- “Free healthcare has become something people must pay for!”
- “Reza Amanifar must be released.”
- “Bread is expensive, medicine is expensive—we long for even a single bite of bread.”
- “Enough warmongering—our tables are empty because of rising prices.”
- “The streets, the streets—the stronghold of working people.”
Today, retirees of the Isfahan Steel Company also gathered outside the provincial governor’s office to protest the reduction of basic healthcare coverage and worsening living conditions. Under pressure from the protesters, Teymourian, the company’s insurance services manager, promised that by next Saturday Bank Refah would restore health insurance coverage with 5 and 10 percent co-payments. The retirees said they do not trust such promises and continue to demand free healthcare and pensions above the cost-of-living threshold. Current estimates place the monthly cost-of-living basket at more than 150 million tomans.
Retirees have become a powerful voice of society against poverty, economic insecurity, discrimination and inequality, corruption and looting, repression, executions, and the government’s warmongering policies.