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Economic Crisis Sparks Biggest Protests in Iran since 2022
(Guardian-UK) Deepa Parent - The sudden loss of purchasing power pushed Alborz, a textile merchant in Isfahan, to close his shop and take to the streets, joining merchants across Iran who shuttered their stores and students who took over their campuses to protest against declining economic conditions. Protests have spread from the capital, Tehran, to cities across Iran. "What will my children eat? Do we have to bring suitcases of cash to simply buy bread? Do you find that normal?" Alborz told the Guardian. Food prices are up by 72% on average compared with the same time last year. The protests are the largest in Iran since 2022. Women's rights activists, shopkeepers and students have begun chanting "death to the dictator." "Yesterday, we blocked roads and stopped the security forces from advancing. People sat on the roads and chanted that they could kill us, but we wouldn't let them pass. We are not going to open shops until the regime weakens further," said Alborz.