Iranian truckers block roads in escalating nationwide strike over fuel hike VIDEO

Truck drivers across Iran intensified their strike on May 28 by blocking roads and ports, protesting against low wages, high insurance premiums, and a potential hike in fuel prices.

According to Asharq Al-Awsat, the strikes initially began on May 22 in Bandar Abbas, a major southern port city and a crucial transportation and shipping hub. Since then, the protests have spread nationwide. Growing slowly but steadily, the movement has gained support from prominent dissident voices and has the potential to evolve into broader anti-government demonstrations.

Last week, the Iranian government announced plans to raise fuel prices for trucks from 4 cents per litre (approximately 15 cents per gallon) to nearly 50 cents per litre (around $1.90 per gallon) by the end of June. Despite Iran’s vast oil and gas reserves, fuel prices in the country remain among the lowest in the world.

Several Iranian dissidents have voiced their solidarity with the truckers. Notably, film director Jafar Panahi, who was awarded the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival last week, urged truck drivers to initiate a nationwide strike.

In an Instagram post, Panahi wrote, “The strike is a loud cry to the government: enough! Stop the mass repression and looting before everything is lost and nothing remains for the people.”

Videos circulating on social media show rows of trucks parked along the shoulders of major highways. Iranian officials stated that the plan to raise fuel prices aims to prevent smuggling of fuel into neighbouring countries, where prices are much higher—fuel costs over one dollar per litre (four dollars per gallon) in neighbouring Pakistan.

Jalal Mousavi, a representative of the truck drivers’ union, said that the drivers are striking because they are struggling to cope with rising costs of fuel, spare parts, and repairs.

By Tamilla Hasanova