Security Forces Member Killed Amid Protests in Iran

Widespread Protests in Iran

A member of Iran's security forces was killed on the fourth day of nationwide protests triggered by the collapse of the national currency, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. The incident occurred in the city of Kouhdasht, located in the western province of Lorestan, amidst confrontations with demonstrators. Several security personnel were also reported injured.

Verified footage from BBC Persian shows security forces opening fire on protesters on the same day. Clashes were reported in the Fars province as well as in the provinces of Hamedan and Lorestan. Authorities in the capital, Tehran, declared a public holiday on Wednesday in a clear attempt to quell the unrest, which began on Sunday.

Fars reported that a 21-year-old member of the Basij, a paramilitary force linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, was killed during a clash in Kouhdasht. Three police officers and Basij members were injured due to stone-throwing.

The protests have spread to other cities; in Fars province, demonstrators attempted to breach a local government building, resulting in three police injuries and four arrests in the city of Fasa. Social media footage showed crowds breaking down the gate of the governor's office, while another video captured uniformed men firing back.

Nationwide, schools, universities, and public institutions have been closed due to the holiday declared by the Iranian government, officially to conserve energy amid cold weather, but widely viewed by many Iranians as an effort to contain the protests. These protests began in Tehran, among merchants furious over another significant drop in the value of the Iranian currency against the US dollar on the open market.

By Tuesday, university students joined the protests, which have spread to multiple cities with messages against the country’s clerical leaders. The current protests represent the largest since 2022, when a revolt broke out following the death in custody of young Mahsa Amini, accused by morality police of improperly wearing her veil. Though they have not reached the same scale, security remains tight in areas of Tehran where demonstrations have begun. President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that his government would heed the "legitimate demands" of the protesters, while Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad warned that any attempt to destabilize the situation would be met with a "decisive response."