Workers, merchants join protests in Iran

Over two months after nationwide protests broke out against Iran’s clerical rulers, strikes by workers and business owners are spreading to more sectors.

Reports say workers of Masjed Soleyman (Masjid Suleiman) Petrochemicals Company stopped work to protest their low wages and living condition, the local news service Iran International reports.

Meanwhile, workers of Bahman Motors car production company went on strike chanting slogans in protest to their living conditions and low wages.

A group of truck and pick-up drivers at a terminal in southern Tehran also held gatherings and went on strike. Videos on social media show the government deploying security forces to quell their protests.

Other videos show a nationwide strike by businessmen in the Kurdish city of Saqqez in western Iran.

Popular protests in the Kurdistan and Kermanshah provinces gained momentum after security forces attacked people in Mahabad on November 19.

On November 21, security forces opened fire on mourners during the funeral ceremony of three people who were killed by regime forces in Javanroud and Piranshahr west of Iran. During the Monday attacks, over a dozen were reportedly killed and injured.

Strikes were instrumental in the overthrow of the monarchy during the 1979 revolution. This time around protesters have urged all groups - including merchants in the bazaars, teachers and workers in the oil sector - to stage strikes in the hope that this would turn the latest unrest into a revolution and lead to the overthrow of the theocracy.