Iranian oil workers go on strike today in support of the Iran revolution movement

Oil and petrochemical workers are said to have gone on strike in support of the protesters, who have been holding violent public demonstrations across the country for almost a month. This could be a worry for Iran’s leaders.

Radio Farda says that about 1,000 workers at the petrochemical plants in Bushehr and Damavand threatened to go on strike by blocking streets and shouting “Death to the tyrant.” Social media said that at that time, people were walking out of the Kangan refinery. Official state media said that the strike was only a short-term problem caused by late pay. Tehran’s problems will get worse if a lot of Iran’s important oil and petrochemical industries are hurt. Tehran found out over the weekend that some bazaar vendors had closed down and joined the protests. Since most people think that market vendors in the capital are loyal to the government, this would also worry the forces that keep Iran’s theocratic state in place.

On October 9, Iran’s political leaders held a crisis meeting to try to stop the protests that women and young people from “Generation Z” were leading. After that, officials told Iranians to stay united as a country and fight against the “hostile plots” of those who don’t like the Islamic system. Tehran has made a lot of accusations, saying that Saudi Arabia, Israel, the U.S., and other enemies are stirring up trouble. Iran Human Rights Watch in Oslo said on October 10 that at least 185 protesters, including at least 19 children, had been killed by security forces. Since the protests started, the Iranian government press has released the names of 24 security officers who were allegedly killed by “rioters.”

On October 10, a video that couldn’t be trusted showed a lot of people protesting in the city of Sanandaj, which is in the western part of Iran. Heavy gunfire and explosions were heard all over the city, and there were reports of fights between protesters and security officers. Authorities are said to have detained and questioned several well-known Iranians, like football player Ali Daei, and taken their passports. It looks like the interrogations were ordered because the celebrities supported the protesters.

Tehran has criticised “partisan” Farsi-language media outlets with headquarters outside of Iran, saying that they lie or stir up protests. The government has said that BBC Persian and Iran International are spreading information that is obviously not true. On October 10, BBC Persian wrote a story about how recordings of the death of Nika Shakarami, a 16-year-old Iranian protester, that were shared online showed that she had died. In Tehran, Shakarami can be seen sitting on top of a trash can and burning her headscarf.

Since Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman, died on September 16 while being held by Iran morality police for “inappropriate dress,” there have been protests all over Iran. On October 10, the British government put in place sanctions that make it hard for Iran’s moral police and other important public figures to travel to the UK.