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The protests, which ranged from demands for overdue payments and benefits to objections over steep tuition hikes, highlighted the growing discontent among various sectors of society.
On Saturday, hundreds of retired teachers gathered outside Iran’s Parliament in Tehran to demand the payment of their long-delayed entitlements.
Protesters, primarily those who retired in 2021, held 100,000-rial banknotes as a symbolic gesture of national currency's devaluation, chanting slogans such as, “Shout, shout / Against all this injustice.”
Iran's currency has lost 99.99% of its value since 1979, the year the Islamic Republic was established. In 1978, 100,000 rials was valued at $1,428; today, it is worth only 14 cents.
The demonstrators also directed their dissatisfaction toward Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, shouting, “Ghalibaf, have some shame / fulfill our rights.”
The Free Union of Iranian Workers estimated that around 1,000 teachers from provinces including Tehran, Alborz, and Qom participated in the rally.
Protesters condemned the government for failing to fully implement the job classification law, which mandates that retired teachers receive pensions equal to 90% of the salaries of active educators. They also criticized delays in payments, noting that similar demonstrations on November 20 had resulted in no tangible progress.
Students protest steep tuition hikes
Simultaneously, medical students from Azad University marched in protest against tuition hikes during a visit by Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i to the university’s Science and Research campus.
Holding banners students expressed outrage at what they termed astronomical fee increases.
Students from medical, dental, and pharmacy programs have been protesting since October 13 against an almost 200% hike in tuition fees. Despite repeated demonstrations at locations including Parliament and the Ministry of Science, students say that officials have failed to address their grievances.
Azad University President Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi has defended the tuition increases, describing them as natural for a self-financed institution. However, students argue that such hikes ignore their financial realities.
Professors fight for reinstatement
Adding to the wave of protests, 20 dismissed or suspended university professors wrote an open letter to President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday, accusing the government of failing to reinstate them despite prior assurances. The professors said they were removed from their posts for defending academic freedom, not violating any law as government officials have suggested.
In recent years, Iran has witnessed a significant number of university professors being dismissed from their positions. This trend intensified following the nationwide protests in September 2022. Most of the dismissed academics had expressed support for the protests or were regarded as government critics.
Among the signatories were academics from institutions such as Beheshti University in Tehran, Isfahan University, and Shiraz University. The professors called on the government to release a list of reinstated academics, challenging Pezeshkian’s recent claim that many had returned to their posts.
Negar Zeilabi, a history professor at Beheshti University, shared on social media that despite court rulings in her favor, university officials have refused to reinstate her due to external pressure, referring to security agencies. She described the inaction as emblematic of broader failures to uphold justice for academics.
The protests reflect deeper dissatisfaction with systemic mismanagement and unfulfilled commitments across various sectors. Retired teachers face financial insecurity, students are burdened by rising costs, and professors contend with institutional inertia and political interference.
The Deputy Coordinator for Urban Affairs of Tehran Province announced Saturday that kindergartens, preschools, and special education institutions would remain closed on Sunday, with elementary school classes shifting online for the day.
“Given the ongoing air pollution, educational activities...will be suspended,” the official said, adding that such actions aim to reduce exposure to the harmful effects of polluted air. Additionally, government offices may face closures or reduced working hours if air quality deteriorates further, pending approval from the Ministry of Interior.
Traffic restrictions are being tightened to curb pollution. Firooz Kashir, Social Deputy of Tehran's Traffic Police, announced a 48-hour ban on diesel trucks in the capital.
He also added that targeting vehicles operating without technical inspections remains a police priority.
Football matches across Tehran Province, including youth and adult categories, were canceled for Sunday to protect players and coaches. Authorities cited the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular harm caused by the capital’s hazardous air quality as the primary reason for the cancellations.
The Health and Climate Change Department of the Ministry of Health reported in January that 14% of natural deaths in Iran are linked to air pollution. The use of mazut, a low-grade fuel oil commonly burned in power plants and industries, significantly worsens the crisis. High levels of particulate matter released from mazut combustion exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, placing further strain on public health systems.
Air pollution in Iran stems from systemic neglect and mismanagement of the electric grid and natural gas production that necessitate burning highly pollutant fuels. Tehran, in particular, faces pollution challenges due to overpopulation, poor urban planning, and outdated infrastructure.
Aging vehicles, insufficient public transportation, and weak enforcement of vehicle inspection laws contribute heavily to the crisis. Industrial reliance on low-quality fossil fuels further compounds the problem, as does the government’s inability to modernize systems or invest in cleaner technologies.
While officials often blame citizens for overusing private vehicles, analysts point to government policies as the root cause. Subsidized energy prices encourage overconsumption, and industrial practices remain outdated and poorly regulated. Urban sprawl and deforestation exacerbate dust storms, further degrading air quality. By shifting blame to the public, the government diverts attention from its failure to implement effective policies or enforce environmental regulations.
As Tehran continues to grapple with hazardous air pollution, short-term measures like school closures and vehicle restrictions provide only temporary relief. Without a strategic shift toward sustainable practices and modernized infrastructure, Tehran's residents are likely to face recurring health and environmental challenges.
