Tehran Uses Police Buses, IRGC Drivers Amid City Bus Strike

In exclusive comments to Iran International, the spokesman said on Monday, “We are witnessing brave Iranian protestors demand that their government address their concerns amid rising commodity prices and water and electricity shortages.We have also seen deeply disturbing reports of security forces firing on protesters.Again, we condemn the use of violence against peaceful protestors.”

Iranians on social media questioned the Biden Administration’s silence over the protests in recent days but were mostly thankful when Price tweeted on Sunday.

“Brave Iranian protesters are standing up for their rights. The Iranian people have a right to hold their government accountable,” Price wrote.

Protests began in Iran on May 6 as the government drastically raised food prices, leaving tens of millions of Iranians in danger of facing hunger as inflation surpassing 40 percent has depleted their means to buy basic food.

Hundreds of Twitter users reacted positively to the tweet, although some commented that it was a belated reaction to days of protests by many Iranians risking their lives.

The Trump administration was more vocal when it came to backing the demands of Iranians for good governance and human rights. Some tweets by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo received overwhelming support by Iranian Americans and others. A tweet against some Iranian officials on January 12, 2021, received more than 42,000 ‘likes’.

The State Department told Iran International on Monday, “We support the human rights of Iranians to peacefully assemble and express themselves, without fear of violence and detention by security forces.”

The spokesman also condemned the disruption of internet services in many cities and towns by the government who wants to prevent news reaching the world about the protests and the violence used against unarmed citizens.

“As Secretary Blinken has previously stated, the United States condemns the use of partial or complete government-imposed Internet shutdowns, among other tactics, to prevent the exercise of freedom of expression online and restrict the ability of independent journalists to serve the public,” the State Department said.

In addition to internet disruption, Iran’s government has also jammed satellite television signals beamed to Iran. The Voice of America, Iran International and other broadcasters provide censored news and views in Persian to Iranians, which the government wants to block.

Asked if the US is considering imposing additional sanctions on the Islamic Republic government for its human rights violations, the spokesman said, “As a general practice, we do not preview sanctions.”

The strike came abruptly and without prior notification. After reports of the BRT bus services having come to a halt, the Tehran Bus company announced that the issue arose from “special circumstances” that it could not explain and promised to resolve theissue, but the news of the strike soon spread on social media.

The strike comes amid reports of considerable presence of security forces in the streets of the capital where the government fears possible eruption of protests triggered by soaring food prices.

Iranians in several smal towns and cities, particularly in the southwestern provinces of the country have been protesting the government decisionto raise food prices ten days ago. The government has tried to suppress the protests heavy-handedly. So far tens of protesters have been arrested and at least five protester deaths have been reported.

Social media users say massive blockage of streets in several of Tehran’s busiest districts and say authorities and police have resorted to using other vehicles including police vans to transport frustrated citizens stuck on the streets. The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (SWTSBC) said in an Instagram post that these included buses belonging to military organizations.

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The strike started by BRT bus drivers Monday who were later joined by drivers of other bus companies throughout the city who left their vehicles at bus terminals and joined their BRT colleagues in front of the central offices of the Tehran Bus Company and several other locations. There are also reports of technicians of the company joining the drivers.

The striking drivers are demanding their two months of overdue wages and protesting a rumor that the municipality has decided to limit a promised 10 percent raise despite a much higher figure announced earlier by the Supreme Labor Council.

“We Want Our Wages,” drivers chanted and demanded the resignation of Tehran’s hardline Mayor, Alireza Zakani. “Incompetent Mayor, Resign, Resign,” they also chanted.

Zakani cancelled another scheduled meeting and rushed to the drivers’ gathering to talk with strikers’ representatives.

The Instagram account of SWTSBC, the bus drivers’ union which has over 17,000 members, reported that striking drivers refused to send their representatives inside the building and want him to join them outside at their rally. There is a photo on Twitter showing Zakani speaking at the gathering of the drivers but his remarks have not been reported yet.

SWTSBC also reported that police are present at their gathering in large numbers to force them to end their strike. “SWTSBC strongly condemns police interference to end the strike,” another post by SWTSBC said.

According to SWTSBC, security forces have arrested several drivers and other workers of the Tehran Bus Company, including Vahid Fereydouni, one of the union’s activists.

SWTSBC is one of the country’s oldest and largest unions. The government does not recognize the SWTSBC as a legitimate union which has nevertheless continued to organize several industrial actions since 2004.

The union’s leaders, including Mansour Osanlou and Fereydouni have been persecuted and jailed on several occasions since its reactivation in 2004.

In a statement Saturday, the groups demanded the unconditional release of detainees from recent protests as well as all jailed ‘political’ and trade union activists.The signatories include United Republicans of Iran, formed by exiled leftists in 2004, the People's Fadaian, a formerly Communist group now proclaiming itself social democratic, the Social Democratic and Secular Republican Party of Iran, and the National Front, which claims descent from the 1950s nationalist leader Mohammad Mossadegh.

The groups expressed opposition to the government’s recent removal of a subsidized dollar rate for importing essential goods (including wheat, cooking oil and animal feed). The move which has led to jumps in food prices, reflect a tighter approach by the administration of President Ebrahim Raisi to Iran’s fiscal challenge following United States post-2018 ‘maximum pressure’ sanctions.

During the past few days, several cities in Iran have seen protests triggered by the sudden hike in food prices thatquickly turned into rallies with people chanting slogans against government leaders. The six opposition groups called the government’s decisions "irresponsible" in that they had led to “intensified pressure on society, especially on low-income, vulnerable wage earners."

The intelligence ministry has also summoned several journalists to demand explanations about their coverage, although the media has largely been silent about the protests that began on May 5.

Iran International has learned that on Sunday the intelligence ministry had convened a meeting with representatives of Government-controlled media to issue new restrictions. The authorities asked media managers to highlight a narrative that public property “is being destroyed by troublemakers and elements of foreign influence.”

Parallel with intimidating newspapers and websites, that are already under government control, authorities have disrupted internet access in at least 15 provinces. Security organs routinely slow down or shut off access during popular protests to prevent the people from sharing images and news in the absence of media coverage. Authorities are concerned about the outside world finding out details about protests and witness the use of force by security forces. They also do not want different regions of the country to find out about protests elsewhere.

Along with control of traditional and social media, the government has been jamming Persian-language television stations beaming news and programs into the country. The Voice of America, Iran International, Radio Farda, Manoto TV and BBC Persian are closely followed in Iran, where most households have satellite receivers to watch these stations.

Iran has developed technology to jam the satellite signal close to the ground with special mobile jammers that move into areas where the government does not want people to get independent news and information. In recent days, the government is focusing its jamming in areas where there are protests.

The intelligence ministry’s new restrictions do not just apply to the coverage of protests but also more broadly to the issue of economic policies that triggered the ongoing protests.

The government of President Ebrahim Raisi announced in early May that it would end special food import subsidies in place since 2018, when the United States pulled out of the nuclear agreement known as JCPOA and imposed serious economic sanctions.

Immediately following the announcement food prices jumped, with some items doubling or tripling in a matter of hours. The shock came as the income of ordinary Iranians has lost most of its purchasing power after four years of 30-40 percent inflation and a steep loss in the value of the national currency.

On Saturday, Iran International had reported that the government told the media not to use certain words and terminology when reporting on protests. These included words such as "economic surgery", "violent confrontation", "clashing with people" and "sit-in", threatening media outlets with judicial penalties.

“Economic surgery” is a term used by many government officials, including first deputy prime minister Mohammad Mokhber, to refer to the elimination of food import subsidies. Later, an unnamed security official denied that such a directive was issued.

US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a tweet on Sunday, “We support their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression online and offline -- without fear of violence and reprisal”. “Brave Iranian protestors are standing up for their rights”.

This is the first official reaction by the Biden Administration to the ongoing protests in several Iranian cities, triggered by a sudden hike in food prices. But the unrest has quickly turned into anti-Islamic Republic protests with people chanting slogans against top government leaders.

Sunday night, people were heard chanting “Death to Raisi”, “Death to Khamenei”, as some gunshots were heard in Shahre Kord, the center of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinc. Some reports said that security forces directly fired at demonstrators. So far, five deaths have been reported in more than a week of protests. Security forces also use batons and tear gas against protesters.

Many citizens have also been detained but there is no total number reported by reliable sources. Many younger people are among the detainees and some reports speak of security forces arresting whole families if some members were identified during protests.