Khaberni - Official media reported that Iranian protesters attempted to storm a local government building in the southern Fars province on Wednesday, on the fourth day of demonstrations due to the high cost of living, prompting the government to make an unusual offer for dialogue.
The protests began with the rise in inflation and the depreciation of the local currency, the Iranian rial, among shop owners in Tehran on Sunday and spread to several universities in the Iranian capital by Tuesday, then the reported storming attempt on Wednesday.
Official media reported that "a few hours ago, an organized group tried to enter the provincial building in the city of Fasa, and their attack was thwarted by security forces." It continued, "The leader of these rioters, a 28-year-old woman, has been arrested."
The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported a local official saying that four "attackers" were arrested and three security personnel were injured during the incident.
A video clip published by official media showed a group of people forcefully trying to open the building's gate.
The governor of Fasa told the official media that "the protests were due to inflation and economic conditions. Individuals influenced by hostile channels and media participated... The situation has returned to normal."
The Iranian authorities responded to previous protests, which occurred for reasons including prices, drought, women's rights, and political freedoms, with strong security measures and widespread arrests.
This time, the government said it would establish a "dialogue mechanism" with protest leaders, in the first major protests since Israeli and American strikes on Iran in June, which sparked widespread national solidarity. The government did not specify how this mechanism would operate.
The Iranian economy has faced significant challenges for years following the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions in 2018, when President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the nuclear deal between major powers and Iran during his first term.
The Iranian rial lost nearly half of its value against the dollar in 2025, with inflation reaching 42.5% in December, in a country that has repeatedly experienced unrest in recent years.
