Iran: Pro- and anti-government protests continue January 3 /update 9

Event

Pro- and anti-government demonstrations continued in Iran on Wednesday, January 3, for the seventh consecutive day. Thousands of anti-government protesters reportedly held a demonstration in Tehran's Enghelab Square around 17:30 (local time) on Wednesday amid a heavy security presence. Confrontations between anti-government protesters and security forces also broke out Ilam (Ilam province), Isfahan (Isfahan province), Zarrin Shahr (Isfahan province), and Ahvaz (Khuzestan province), according to eyewitnesses; additional anti-government protests were reported in other cities from late on Tuesday, January 2, into Wednesday.

Thousands of pro-government counter-protesters also took the streets on Wednesday, January 3. Demonstrations were reported in the cities of Ahvaz, Arak (Markazi province), Ilam, Gorgan (Golestan province), and Kermanshah (Kermanshah province).

At least 22 people have been killed in the ongoing protests since they began on December 28. On Wednesday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that the protests were quelled; Iranian government sources stated that banned social media platforms, including Telegram and Instagram, will be made accessible on Friday, January 5. However, further pro- and anti-government demonstrations are expected to continue in cities across Iran in the coming days despite official assurances that protests have been contained. A heavy security presence and additional clashes between security forces and protesters are to be anticipated in Iranian cities in the coming days.

Context

Protests against high prices, the state's economic policies, high unemployment, and perceived government corruption have sprung up in many cities across Iran, spreading from demonstrations that first occurred on December 28 in Mashhad. The ongoing protests are considered the largest such demonstrations expressing public dissatisfaction with the economic and sociopolitical status quo since the Green Movement protests of 2009. At least 21 people have been killed and over 1000 others arrested across the country since the protests began on December 28, 2017.

The Iranian economy has generally improved since the country signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known colloquially as the Iran nuclear deal, in 2015. Public frustration has risen in recent months, however, as the JCPOA's promised economic benefits have yet to reach much of the Iranian population.

Advice

Individuals in Iran are advised to strictly avoid all protests and public gatherings, closely monitor the situation, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities. A number of countries are currently advising their citizens against travel to Iran due to the ongoing unrest.