Two Killed Amid Protester Clashes with Security Forces in Iran

Violence Escalates in Iran

Two individuals have been reported killed during the escalating unrest in Iran, marking the fifth day of protests triggered by the rising cost of living. The semi-official news agency Fars and the human rights group Hengaw confirmed the deaths following clashes between protesters and security forces in the city of Lordegan, located in southwestern Iran.

Video posted on social media displayed vehicles set ablaze during the fighting between protesters and security forces. Many demonstrators have called for an end to the rule of the country's supreme leader, while some are advocating for a return to monarchy. The protests have been sparked by the plummeting currency value, quickly spreading to multiple cities across the country, including the capital Tehran and Fars province.

Fars reported that in Lordegan, the two deceased were identified as protesters, Ahmad Jalil and Sajjad Valamanesh, according to an official source. However, this information has not been independently verified. Additionally, state media reported that a member of the security forces connected to the Revolutionary Guard was killed during clashes with protesters in the city of Kudasht.

The incident left 13 police officers and members of the Basij group injured due to stone-throwing attacks. In an effort to calm the situation, authorities have closed schools, universities, and public institutions nationwide, declaring a holiday amid cold weather, which many Iranians view as an attempt to control the protests.

President Masoud Pezeshkian pledged that the government will listen to the "legitimate demands" of the protesters, yet Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad warned that any attempts to incite instability will face a "decisive response."