Protests in Iran turn into riots

Protests taking place in western and northeastern Iran have turned into riots, Tasnim reports.

“On Friday evening, a protest rally was held in the city of Bojnourd over fluctuations in the exchange rate of the Iranian rial. In a number of areas, demonstrators moved beyond purely economic demands and began rioting,” the report said.

As noted, the number of people involved in the unrest did not exceed 100. They blocked road sections, disrupting traffic.

At the same time, in the western city of Serbala, armed groups reportedly took to the streets and opened fire with automatic weapons while chanting “Death to Khamenei.”

According to Fars news agency, since Friday morning the number of peaceful demonstrations has declined, while the protests have taken on a more overtly political character. Protesters have increasingly clashed with police and more actively chanted anti-government slogans.

Media reports say the unrest is being organized by small groups armed with bladed weapons, firearms, or Molotov cocktails. They have reportedly carried out attacks on administrative and public buildings.

Similar incidents have also been reported in Tehran, where demonstrators burned the national flag and threw stones at passers-by while shouting “Death to the dictator.”

Protests erupted in the Islamic Republic of Iran in late December over the depreciation of the national currency. The main cause was sharp fluctuations in the rial’s exchange rate and their impact on wholesale and retail prices.