Iran's Grand Bazaar Brings Violence as Nationwide Protests Enter 10th Day.
Tensions escalated at Tehran's historic Grand Bazaar on Tuesday, where security forces clashed with protesters in a violent confrontation that has left at least 35 people dead and over 1,200 arrested. The clashes marked the latest chapter in a nationwide protest movement that began over economic concerns and rising prices.
President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the government's limited control over the economy, blaming sanctions for exacerbating inflation and warning that any attempt to intervene would only worsen the situation. "The government basically does not have such power," he said. "Even if it wants to do this, it will be forced to put heavy pressure on the lower deciles of society by printing money."
As the economy continues to spiral out of control, the Iranian rial has plummeted to a historic low against the US dollar, losing over two-thirds of its value in the past three years. The central bank's decision to curb a programme offering a preferential exchange rate on dollars is likely to further fuel price increases and shortages for consumers.
The protests have shown no signs of slowing, with demonstrations reported at 257 locations across 88 cities nationwide. Meanwhile, authorities have been walking a delicate line between crackdowns and dialogue, while the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has acknowledged the legitimacy of protesters' demands, but warned against "rioters" among the demonstrators.
The US has weighed in on the situation, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemning the use of force by security forces against medical staff and wounded protesters. The Iranian government has faced growing international pressure over its handling of the protests, which have raised concerns about human rights abuses and the rule of law.
Tensions escalated at Tehran's historic Grand Bazaar on Tuesday, where security forces clashed with protesters in a violent confrontation that has left at least 35 people dead and over 1,200 arrested. The clashes marked the latest chapter in a nationwide protest movement that began over economic concerns and rising prices.
President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the government's limited control over the economy, blaming sanctions for exacerbating inflation and warning that any attempt to intervene would only worsen the situation. "The government basically does not have such power," he said. "Even if it wants to do this, it will be forced to put heavy pressure on the lower deciles of society by printing money."
As the economy continues to spiral out of control, the Iranian rial has plummeted to a historic low against the US dollar, losing over two-thirds of its value in the past three years. The central bank's decision to curb a programme offering a preferential exchange rate on dollars is likely to further fuel price increases and shortages for consumers.
The protests have shown no signs of slowing, with demonstrations reported at 257 locations across 88 cities nationwide. Meanwhile, authorities have been walking a delicate line between crackdowns and dialogue, while the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has acknowledged the legitimacy of protesters' demands, but warned against "rioters" among the demonstrators.
The US has weighed in on the situation, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemning the use of force by security forces against medical staff and wounded protesters. The Iranian government has faced growing international pressure over its handling of the protests, which have raised concerns about human rights abuses and the rule of law.
its like theyre having a huge problem with their economy but I also saw some vids of ppl protesting and it looks super scary 
I mean i know theres sanctions and all that, but 35 people dead is wild 
like how can that happen in a bazaar or somethin? 
what does the government say about makin money for everyone? do they have like a magic solution or whats goin on? 
come on, 35 people dead? That's crazy. I think the Iranian president is trying to spin things by saying the government can't control the economy, but that's not entirely true - they just need to make some changes. Printing more money might seem like an easy fix, but it's a temporary solution and only makes things worse in the long run 
.
. And now they're curbing the exchange rate program? That's just gonna make things worse. 
. The US is right to speak out against human rights abuses - we should be supporting people's rights, not just talking about it 
.
. The fact that the economy is spiraling outta control is no joke 
. At least 35 people have lost their lives, and over 1,200 have been arrested? That's just too much 
. The Iranian rial is tanking, prices are rising, and people are suffering 
. I'm also glad the US is speaking out against human rights abuses and the use of force against medical staff 
.
. Maybe a new system or some kind of economic reform? It's not too late to make things right 
. Fingers crossed that something positive comes out of this 
35 people dead & over 1,200 arrested?! 
maybe they should listen to the protesters & try to find a solution that works for everyone? 
. I can imagine how hard it must be for the protesters to have their voices heard when there's so much violence going on around them.
. And I'm surprised the US isn't doing more to help, especially with Secretary Blinken condemning the use of force by security forces.
like the world is finally paying attention to human rights issues and how the government is handling these protests. It's crazy that people are risking their lives to speak up against economic struggles and price hikes, it's actually a sign that they care deeply about their future. Also, I guess President Pezeshkian is being honest about the limitations of his government's control over the economy, maybe this will lead to some real changes? And it's not all bad that the Iranian rial has plummeted, like people are finally seeing the value of money and it might wake them up to change their ways. Fingers crossed for a peaceful resolution 
. I mean, 35 people dead and 1,200 arrested? That's some serious heavy-handedness from the government 
. But the question remains: can Iran really be blamed for its economic woes without taking some responsibility of its own? 
. If the Iranian rial is losing value against the US dollar, what's that say about our own monetary policies over here? We need to be careful not to exacerbate the problem and make things worse 
.
... I mean, who needs historic landmarks when you've got gunshots and tear gas, right? 
. The government's just trying to control the economy, but it looks like they need to take a lesson from the experts (aka everyone else) 
. I wonder if printing more money is really going to help... seems like a lot of people are pretty much done with it 
. and poor protesters gotta deal with all this violence and arrests... it's just not right 
. i'm kinda worried about the rial too, like if it keeps plummeting what's gonna happen to inflation? 
. And on a completely different note, did you know that there's this amazing hiking trail near where I live that goes through this beautiful forest with these stunning waterfalls? I've been meaning to go check it out with my family this weekend 
. Oh, and I just remembered I need to pick up some birthday presents for my niece next week...
35 people are dead? Over 1,200 arrested? That's just devastating 
The president is trying to say they don't have control over the economy but that's just not true 
The international pressure is mounting and I hope someone does something about this human rights situation... it's just not right 
it's crazy how the rial has plummeted to almost nothing & people r struggling just to afford basic stuff 
And now they're facing international pressure for human rights abuses... about time someone started holding them accountable 
️. I mean, 35 deaths and 1,200 arrests is a pretty high price to pay for not knowing how to run an economy 
).