Iran: Signs of New Protests Against Rise in Prices

Signs of a new round of protests emerged in Tehran, after the rise in prices hit the foreign exchange market, pushing the dollar to a record high in two years.

Angry Iranians gathered on Sunday in front of the Central Bank headquarters, chanting slogans condemning the officials and demanding the resignation of the central bank governor, Abdolnaser Hemmati.

The latter was the center of recent speculations, as political circles in Tehran reported that he could run for the presidential elections scheduled for May 2021.

Iranian security forces cordoned off the streets leading to the bank, according to eyewitnesses’ reports on social networks.

Meanwhile, the government adopted security measures and arrested officials to reduce popular discontent.

Quoting the Iranian police chief, ILNA news agency reported that the authorities launched a new unit called the “economic security police” to counter economy breaches.

For its part, Fars Agency of the Revolutionary Guards quoted Colonel Nader Moradi, Deputy Commander of the Greater Tehran Police for Supervision of Commercial Venues, as saying that the police forces will “legally confront the officials of the home appliance unions who trade in goods with the aim of selling them at high prices that exceed the approved rates.”

The price of one dollar rose in recent days to 180,000 Iranian Rials, the highest record reached since August 2018, in parallel with the implementation of the US sanctions.