Drivers and truckers gathered outside the Roads and Transport Organization in Tehran to protest against the economic hardships they are going through.

Videos on social media showed them chanting slogans against empty government promises and a crackdown by security forces.

In May, the Union of truckers and drivers announced its intention to organize a national strike, affirming that the holding of demonstrations for the realization of their demands is their inalienable right. The date of the strike will be announced soon.

Sunday’s demonstration unfolded against the backdrop of strikes by traders and protests by pensioners in many cities across the country, such as Kermanshah, Sari, Rasht and several towns in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan, including Ahvaz, Shush and Shushtar.

Demonstrations and strikes by retirees and traders on Saturday coincided with the first anniversary of President Ebrahim Raisi’s election in a context of economic and political uncertainty.

Pensioners again took to the streets in many cities and towns on Sunday to protest against the meager increase in their pensions, which does not compensate for the huge drop in their purchasing power given an inflation rate of more than 40%. The current round of strikes and protests began on Sunday, June 12, after Iran’s currency fell to a historic low of 333,000 rials to the US dollar.