24 Mar 2021 | 06:11 AM UTC
Iran: Protests likely to continue in Gonbad Kavus through March
Protests likely to continue in Gonbad Kavus, Iran, through March. Increased security and disruptions likely.
Event
Protests will likely continue in Gonbad Kavus, Golestan Province, through at least March following clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Hundreds of Iranian Turkmen had gathered outside the city courthouse March 23 to demand justice for the alleged sexual assault of two Turkmen children by a guard of the Golestan Dam.
Authorities will almost certainly maintain a heightened security presence in the city until the unrest subsides. Officials could extend telecommunications disruptions to prevent protesters from organizing. Localized business and transport disruptions are likely; authorities could enforce other restrictions, including curfews and road closures. Further clashes are possible, and violence could escalate if casualties occur during the ongoing protests.
Gonbad Kavus is approximately 380 km (236 miles) northeast of Tehran.
Advice
Consider avoiding travel through or in Gonbad Kavus until the unrest subsides. Avoid all protests. Heed the advice of security personnel and leave the area immediately at the first sign of any confrontation. Plan for ground travel disruptions in or through Gonbad Kavus in the coming days.
