Protests over cost of living and pensions took place in Iran — Jerusalem Post
In Tehran and several other Iranian cities, small protests involving pensioners, retired education workers, telecommunications industry pensioners, and job seekers took place, according to the Jerusalem Post. Videos of the rallies were released by the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
Pensioners' demands
In Isfahan and Sanandaj, pensioners on Sunday demanded a response to the cost-of-living crisis and pension payments commensurate with its level. Participants referred to Article 96 of Iran's Social Security Law.
Some protesters also called for the implementation of Article 111 of this law. It stipulates that pensions and disability benefits must remain no lower than the legally established minimum wage. According to Iranian media, the base minimum wage in the country is about 16.6 million tomans per month, excluding benefits.
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Rallies in several cities
On Sunday, demonstrations by retired education workers, telecommunications industry pensioners, and job seekers were also reported in Tehran, Ahvaz, Shush, Kermanshah, Dezful, and Rasht. On Monday, a group of pensioners reportedly protested in Kermanshah province, demanding measures to overcome the cost-of-living crisis and subsidized treatment under supplementary health insurance programs.
Rising treatment costs
The protests are taking place amid rising costs of treatment and medicines. According to DW Persian, some Iranian residents, including cancer patients, are refusing critically needed treatment or delaying it because of its high cost.
Tasnim, an agency affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that prices for some medicines had risen by 120%, while DW cited data showing that certain medicines had increased in price by up to 543%. A monthly supply of four NovoRapid insulin pens after insurance reimbursement, according to DW citing Iranian doctors, rose in price from about 280,000 to 1.1 million tomans.
