In the protests in Azne, according to Fars, protesters began throwing stones at administrative buildings, including the governor's office and mosques. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
According to videos posted online, various items are burning in the streets, gunshots can be heard, and the crowd is chanting: "Shameless! Shameless!"
Additionally, in the city of Lordegan, located about 470 km south of Tehran, two people also died during the protests. According to Iranian state television, a 21-year-old member of the Basij organization was killed during the unrest while trying to maintain public order in Kuhdasht, located in the west of the country.
The Basij is a volunteer force subordinate to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
These events are taking place against the backdrop of an economic crisis in the country, exacerbated by Western sanctions and inflation exceeding 40%. The latest protests began after shop owners expressed dissatisfaction with the government's actions regarding the fall of the national currency and rising prices on Sunday.
Al Jazeera correspondent Tohid Asadi noted that this week the government is taking a more restrained stance towards the protesters than in previous instances. At the same time, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the "legitimate demands" of the protesters and called for action to improve the economic situation.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani also reported the authorities' intention to engage in direct dialogue with unions and traders, but emphasized that the authorities would maintain a "firm" line in response to attempts at destabilization.
During the protests on Wednesday, Iranian authorities announced banking holidays due to the need to conserve energy because of the cold weather. On the same day, the Tasnim agency reported the detention of seven individuals suspected of links to "hostile groups" against the Islamic Republic from the U.S. and Europe.
