Iran’s president says protests stem from failure to address public concerns

If the people’s voice had been heard earlier, there would have been no protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said during a meeting with the minister of Economy and his deputies.

According to Pezeshkian, the authorities must address the problems faced by traders, market workers, and other segments of society before resorting to extreme measures.

The president also described one of the country’s strategic goals as shifting the focus of economic development from Tehran to the regions, particularly to southern port cities.