Protests driven by economic distress in Iran have widened beyond major urban centres, reaching several rural provinces on Thursday, with authorities confirming at least six deaths among demonstrators and security personnel. These are the first reported fatalities since the latest wave of unrest began, raising concerns about a possible escalation in the state’s response.
Officials said one person was killed on Wednesday and five others on Thursday, with the deaths reported from three towns largely inhabited by Iran’s Lur ethnic community. While demonstrations in Tehran appear to have subsided, protests have intensified in other regions, particularly in western and southwestern parts of the country.
The current unrest is being described as the most significant since 2022, when nationwide protests erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody after being detained over alleged violations of Iran’s dress code. Although the present demonstrations have not reached the same scale or intensity, they mark a notable challenge to the authorities amid worsening economic conditions.
Lorestan province emerged as a flashpoint, with reports of violence in the city of Azna, located around 300 kilometres southwest of the capital. Videos circulating online appeared to show fires burning in the streets as gunshots rang out, while voices could be heard chanting slogans condemning authorities. The semi-official Fars News Agency reported that three people were killed in Azna, though state-run media offered limited coverage of the incident.
In another incident, protests were reported in Lordegan, a city in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, approximately 470 kilometres south of Tehran. Video footage from the area showed groups of demonstrators gathered in the streets, with gunfire audible in the background. Fars, citing an unnamed official, said two people lost their lives during the unrest there on Thursday.
Human rights organisations have disputed official accounts. The Washington-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran said two demonstrators were killed in Lordegan and released an image purportedly showing a police officer equipped with body armour and a shotgun at the scene.
Lordegan has previously witnessed unrest. In 2019, protests erupted in the region after reports alleged that residents had contracted HIV due to contaminated needles at a local healthcare facility, leading to damage to government buildings.
Amid the renewed unrest, the limited reporting by state media and the scarcity of on-the-ground coverage have drawn attention, particularly given that journalists faced arrests and prosecutions during the 2022 protests.
