Iran: Teachers’ Protests Sweep Across 100 Cities

Iranian teachers protesting (Arabic website)
Iranian teachers protesting (Arabic website)
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Iran: Teachers’ Protests Sweep Across 100 Cities

Iranian teachers protesting (Arabic website)
Iranian teachers protesting (Arabic website)

Thousands of teachers staged demonstrations in more than 100 Iranian cities on Saturday, protesting the slow implementation of wage and pension reforms.

Members of the Iranian Teachers’ Syndicate said that at least 15 teachers were arrested in the city of Karaj.

The weekend’s demonstrations are the latest in a series of moves recently held by the Teachers’ Syndicate, in protest against the deteriorating living and economic conditions, which were exacerbated by the US sanctions on the country.

Iran has faced unceasing protests by workers last year over inflation, which hit 40 percent, high unemployment, and mismanagement.

Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) said that the legislative proposals, which were recently discussed in Parliament “do not meet their demands.”

Iranian media reported on Saturday that a large number of education sector employees gathered in front of the Education Ministry’s departments, especially in the cities of Karaj, Isfahan, Shiraz, Kermanshah, Ahwaz, Shahrkard, Sanandaj, Kerman, Ardabil, Yasuj, Yazd, and Bushehr.

A member of the Teachers’ Syndicate, Mohammed Habibi, published video recordings of teachers gathering in several Iranian provinces. One of the videos showed teachers being beaten by security forces before the arrest of a number of them in the city of Karaj. Habibi reported that the attack ended with the arrest of 15 teachers.



Netanyahu Takes Witness Stand Again in His Trial for Corruption

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP)
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Netanyahu Takes Witness Stand Again in His Trial for Corruption

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified again on Wednesday in his ongoing trial for alleged corruption.

Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli leader to take the stand as a criminal defendant. He denies wrongdoing, saying the charges are a witch hunt orchestrated by a hostile media and a biased legal system out to topple his lengthy rule.

The corruption trial testimony is another low point for Israel’s longest-serving leader, who also faces an international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to Hungary later Wednesday for a meeting with the country's prime minister, Viktor Orban, despite the international arrest warrant.