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Security forces clash with protesters in western Iran
A member of Iran's Basij paramilitary force was killed during violent protests in the western city of Kouhdasht on Thursday, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. The unrest, now in its fourth day, was triggered by a sharp decline in the Iranian rial's value.
Regional official confirms fatality and injuries
Fars cited Lorestan province official Said Pourali, who reported that the 21-year-old Basij member died in a confrontation with demonstrators. Thirteen police officers and Basij personnel were injured after protesters threw stones, the agency added.
Footage verified by BBC Persian showed security forces firing at crowds in Kouhdasht on the same day, with tear gas visible in the streets.
Protests spread across multiple provinces
Unrest was reported in at least three other regions on Thursday. In the southern province of Fars, demonstrators attempted to storm a government building in the city of Fasa, injuring three police officers and leading to four arrests, officials said.
Videos circulating on social media, authenticated by the BBC, depicted crowds breaking the gate of a governor's office before security forces responded with gunfire. Shops in the area were shuttered amid clouds of tear gas.
Clashes were also recorded in the western provinces of Hamedan and Lorestan, where protests have been ongoing since Sunday.
Government declares holiday amid escalating tensions
Iranian authorities declared Wednesday a bank holiday in Tehran, officially citing energy conservation due to cold weather. However, many Iranians viewed the move as an attempt to suppress the demonstrations, which began among shopkeepers angered by the rial's collapse against the US dollar.
Schools, universities, and public institutions nationwide were closed as a result. By Tuesday, university students had joined the protests, which spread to several cities with chants targeting the country's clerical leadership.
Authorities issue warnings as security tightens
President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that his government would address the protesters' "legitimate demands," but the prosecutor general, Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, warned that any attempts to destabilize the country would face a "decisive response."
Security measures have been heightened in Tehran's protest hotspots to prevent further escalation. The current demonstrations, while the most widespread since the 2022 uprising over Mahsa Amini's death in custody, have not reached the same scale.
Background: Economic grievances fuel unrest
The protests erupted after the Iranian rial hit record lows on the open market, exacerbating long-standing economic frustrations. The 2022 protests, sparked by Amini's death, saw broader anti-government sentiment but were met with a harsh crackdown.
