TEHRAN, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and 13 security personnel wounded in clashes during protests in two Iranian provinces over the past 24 hours, Iranian media reported.
One person was killed on Wednesday night in Kuhdasht county in the western province of Lorestan, Saeid Pourali, the province's deputy governor for political, security and social affairs, told state television IRIB.
Meanwhile, the semi-official Fars news agency reported that unrest in Lordegan county in the western province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari on Thursday left two people dead. Fars described those involved as "rioters" and said several government buildings and banks were damaged. Some attackers opened fire on police, wounding officers, it said, citing an informed source. Several people were arrested, the report added.
The latest wave of demonstrations was triggered by a sharp fall in the value of Iran's currency on Sunday. The rial has weakened sharply since the United States withdrew from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions. The dollar currently trades at a rate of over 1.35 million rials on the open market.
Pourali confirmed that protests had erupted in several cities in recent days over economic grievances. He said "peaceful and legal" demonstrations should be respected, but acts of vandalism and violence were unacceptable and harmed national interests. He attributed the economic pressures, including currency volatility and livelihood concerns, to "cruel" Western sanctions.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that "genuine solidarity alongside constructive criticism" was needed to guide the country through its current challenges and lay the groundwork for lasting reforms, according to the official IRNA news agency.
In a post on X on Monday, Pezeshkian said people's livelihoods were his daily concern. He said the government had "fundamental measures" planned to reform the monetary and banking system and protect purchasing power.
Pezeshkian said he had instructed the interior minister to engage in dialogue with protesters' representatives so the government could address their demands and resolve the problems. ■
