Khaberni - Regions in western Iran, particularly Lorestan Province, are in a state of cautious anticipation amidst the developments of the protests and the authorities' handling of them, as no new demonstrations have been recorded so far, except for the funeral procession of one of the victims who fell during the recent clashes.
On December 28th, vendors in Tehran's Grand Bazaar began protesting due to a sharp decline in the value of the Iranian rial against foreign currencies and worsening economic problems, with the protests later spreading to several cities.
On Wednesday, a member of the Basij forces affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard was killed and 13 police officers were injured during demonstrations in the Kohdasht area of Lorestan province in the west of the country.
According to field data, the protests over the past few days have been concentrated in the western provinces such as Lorestan and Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari, in addition to small towns extending from south of Isfahan to Shiraz.
The Iranian authorities are adopting a dual approach in dealing with these movements, focusing on security containment to avoid escalation, alongside political and economic measures the government announces from time to time.
Strict Measures
Conversely, security and judicial authorities have stated that they will deal firmly with any deviation from the peaceful nature of the protests, warning of strict judicial measures against what they describe as acts of rioting or sabotage, or targeting sensitive facilities, a position confirmed by both the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Police Command.
Politically, Tehran has asserted that the protests are domestic and demand-driven, ruling out foreign interference. However, recent American statements have brought up the issue of foreign intervention again, which might prompt the Iranian authorities to redefine the protests as having security dimensions, which could reflect on how they are handled on the ground.
Tehran, in this context, affirms that any foreign intervention in Iran's internal affairs will be met with an appropriate response, amidst escalating political tension with Washington and continued close monitoring of the domestic situation.
