A member of Iran's security forces was killed during ongoing protests that entered their fourth day, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. The protests were triggered by a significant collapse of the Iranian currency. Regional official Said Pourali confirmed that the incident occurred in Kouhdasht, located in the western Lorestan province, where multiple members of the security forces were reported injured.
Verified footage by BBC Persian shows security forces opening fire on protesters in the same area. Reports of confrontations have emerged from the southern province of Fars as well as western provinces including Hamedan and Lorestan.
In an attempt to suppress the escalating situation, authorities in the capital Tehran declared a bank holiday, which many interpreted as a measure to quench the unrest that began earlier in the week. The Fars report detailing the death indicates that a 21-year-old member of the Basij, a paramilitary branch affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards, was killed amid violent clashes. Additionally, thirteen police officers and other Basij members sustained injuries from stone-throwing protests.
Protest actions have also erupted in other cities. Protesters in Fars attempted to breach a local government building, resulting in injuries to several police officers and the arrest of four individuals in Fasa. Social media has shown masses of people breaking through gates at the governor's office, followed by security forces responding with gunfire and tear gas filling the air.
In light of the unrest, schools and public institutions were closed due to the emergency government holiday, which was officially justified as a measure to conserve energy amid severe weather conditions. However, the move has been widely seen as a tactic to manage the protests.
The protests began in response to a dramatic decline in the Iranian currency against the US dollar, which had severely affected merchants in Tehran. The situation escalated quickly, drawing in university students who organized protests across multiple cities, demanding action against the clerical leadership. While recent protests are the most extensive since the uprising fueled by Mahsa Amini’s death in custody last year, they have yet to reach that same level of intensity.
In anticipation of further unrest, enhanced security measures have been reported in areas where protests originated. President Masoud Pezeshkian has pledged to address the protesters' 'legitimate demands,' yet the prosecutor general has indicated that any efforts to incite disorder will be met with a strong governmental response.
