Iran’s mullahs panic from truckers’ strike

Iran’s truckers went to strike in protest the low wages, high cost of spare parts, tire

The Friday prayers being run every week in Iran’s cities by the representatives of the Iranian regime’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, came under an atmosphere of fear this week. Mullahs in different cities revealed their fear from the nationwide truckers’ strike that started on September 23. Iran’s truckers started the movement in protest to the low wages, systematic corruption in state-run terminals and transportation cycle, and also the high cost of spare parts, tire, etc.

Kazem Seddiqi, the cleric who held the Friday prayers in Tehran, delivered a fearful speech in Tehran, attacking Hassan Rouhani, the regime’s president, accusing his administration and the ministry of transportation of not taking proper measures to stop the strike from happening. “Truckers should be aware not to act as a pawn for enemies,” Seddiqi warned.

Mohammad Al-e Hashem, the Friday prayer leader of Tabriz, could not hide his fear as well. “We will face a serious dilemma if the truckers do not receive their answers in time.” He also pointed out to this nationwide strike and its supports in different strata, saying, “Enemies of Islamic Republic are trying to take advantage of this strike to make more tensions in the society.”

Meanwhile, Iranian regime officials tried to handle the situation by all means to put an end to this strike.

Hasan Nejad, a member of the parliament’s Economy Commission, warned about the explosive state of the society. “Under the mismanagement of the currency, we don’t have smuggled imports anymore! We have smuggled exports! We must be ashamed. Why should truckers start a strike so that we, lawmakers and governors, understand that the country needs the tire for trucks?”

On October 2, MP Kazem Delkhosh named the popular governmental embezzlement as “mismanagement.” While trying to downplay the truckers’ demands in the public session of the parliament, he said, “They exaggerate some small problems and it is because of the mismanagement… truckers’ problems are not so complicated that they can’t be handled. They have some insurance problems.”

Majid Mohtashami, a regime official tied to Rouhani’s faction, pointed out to the hoarding of tons of tires in the country. “Now we have tons of tires in Rajaee harbor’s warehouse, in Bandar Abbas southern Iran, and in ships’ stores as well. We have had no problem in this regard, but now we are facing many problems in distributing such items due to mismanagement.”

It is worth mentioning that hoarding and the distribution of such items is under the control of governmental gangs including IRGC.

Why do the regime’s officials fear the truckers’ strike?

Normally the regime responds to any protest and strikes with an iron fist, but what the world is witnessing now is a nationwide strike, spread across 320 cities in 31 provinces. Moreover, the regime can’t extinguish the fire of the strike yet with its oppressive measures such as arresting, intimidating or threatening the strikers.

Truck Drivers strike in Shahreza

Also worth noting is that the truck drivers’ strike has triggered a similar movement by the merchants of bazaars in various cities, which started on October 8. Now the ruling mullahs that a domino effect will cause more strikes and protests and the situation will spin beyond the control of their suppressive forces. This is what the regime fears the most, and that is why they try not to use violence against the truckers because they’re afraid that the strike will transform into an uprising.

These strikes depict the regime’s failure in responding to the people’s demands crying for their minimum to live in dignity.

On the one hand, the regime cannot give up corruption, the export of terrorism and fundamentalism, and its survival depends on funding its proxies in foreign countries at all costs. But on the other hand, according to reports of state-run media in Iran, over 50 percent of people in Iran are under the poverty line. So more protests and uprisings are on the way and cannot be stopped, and the regime is in a dead end.

Now the spirit of solidarity in Iran is growing in all strata of the society, and all these economic protests are combining with nationwide political demand which is the democratic regime change in Iran.

Iran: People from all walks of life voicing support for truckers’ nationwide strike

Iran – Fars Province – Truckers on strike (File Photo)

Iran, September 30, 2018 - On the second week of the nationwide strike that has spread to over 250 cities in all of the country’s 31 provinces, people from various branches of society are expressing their support for the truckers’ continuing protests.

Statement by a group of bazaar merchants in Tehran

A group of bazaar merchants in Tehran issued a statement backing the truck drivers’ protests and ongoing strike.

“Unfortunately, the mullahs’ regime has brought the country’s economy so such a state of bankruptcy (embezzlement – theft – plundering – oppression of defenseless who hate this regime) that the state is truly becoming paralyzed. Proof is seen in the daily increasing prices of basic goods and essentials… We support your nationwide strike in a comprehensive manner.

“Hail to the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) - Death to Khamenei”

Kermanshah Bazaar merchants express solidarity with truck drives strike

Bazaar merchants in Kermanshah also voiced their support for the protesting truckers.

“At a time when this reactionary regime is determined to push the country into utter destruction, it is the duty any and all patriotic Iranians to support and back this protest and strike… We consider it our duty to sacrifice ourselves in the path for freedom… We are steadfast on our demands, seeking freedom and the complete destructions of this bloodthirsty regime.”

Bushehr University

Bushehr University students in southern Iran issued a statement saying, “These strikes are not only our classroom for a new revolution, but also a very effective and necessary weapon… The truckers’ strike results in the regime becoming paralyzed and tensions are spreading throughout their entire apparatus. The role of strikes in revolutions throughout the world’s history is undeniable. Therefore, we call on all the Iranian people to join the truckers’ strike and we call on the PMOI/MEK to also support this strike and back us in the struggle to overthrow the mullahs’ regime.”

Unemployed youths in Khuzestan Province issued a call asking all Iranians to join this strikeand pursue broader objectives, and emphasizing on the necessity to broaden and organize this protest movement against the mullahs’ regime.

“We call on the Iranian people to refer to texts published by the PMOI/MEK on how to resolve the problems we face in organizing our protests and understanding the importance of having a strategy regarding the ongoing strikes. We call on the PMOI/MEK to support us in this movement launched by the Iranian people.”

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Saturday marks the seventh consecutive day truck drivers across Iran have been on strike, reaching nearly 250 cities across all of the country’s 31 provinces.

Truckers in the cities of Tabriz, Bukan, Isfahan, Zarrinshahr, Tehran, Firouzkuh, Eslamshahr, Mashhad, Shahr-e Kord, Qazvin, Sirjan, Golgohar, Rasht, Khorramabad, Borujerd, Neka, Mahallat, Bandar Abbas, Hamedan, Assad Abad, Maybad, Yazd and Ardokan were scenes of continued strikes parallel to dozens of other cities.

Iranian regime officials, authorities and elements and various cities have ridiculously and desperately resorted to issue threats and making bogus offers. However, the drivers are quite aware of this regime’s nature and deceptiveness, continuing their strike despite these devious measures.

Reports indicate authorities have arrested over 70 truck drivers in the provinces of Qazvin, Fars, Isfahan and also the town of Pakdasht, located southeast of Tehran.

Some numbers show more than 80 drivers were arrested.

15 of the striking truck drivers were arrested on Thursday, the fifth day of truck drivers’ nationwide strike which has spread to over 220 cities across Iran, according to Ismaeel Sadeghi Niaraki, the regime’s prosecutor in Qazvin Province (northwest Iran). These drivers “blocked roads with their trucks and disrupted commuting inroads inside the province,” he claimed.

“Action has been taken against any individual who disrupts people’s lives and we will not allow people seeking their own interests to block roads and prevent general commuting, disrupting people’s lives,” he said in his threats during an interview with the state-run Mehr news agency, known to be affiliated to the Iranian regime’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).

“Individuals who disrupt people’s lives by blocking truck commuting in our roads and damage people’s lives will be facing firm action,” this official of the mullahs’ so-called judiciary said.

Truckers expanding the nationwide strike

The hardworking truck drivers of Iran continued their strike for the fifth consecutive day.

On Wednesday the truckers of Rafsanjan and Shahr-e Parandak (Markazi Province) also joined the massive strike spreading throughout the country.

Reports indicate people from other walks of life are also joining this ever-growing protest movement.

On Thursday, bus drivers in Dezful, southwest Iran, declared their solidarity with the truck drivers and went on strike.

On Wednesday, vehicles transferring fruits from nearby towns to the city of Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan & Baluchistan Province in southeast Iran, emptied their loads in the city’s Sarallah Boulevard and joined this strike.

Bus passenger companies such as Iran Peyma, Hamsafar, TBT and Royal Safar in Ahvaz, Abadan, Khorramshahr, Mahshahr, Izzeh and other cities of Khuzestan Province closed their ticket selling offices and branches in solidarity with the truck drivers’ protests.

A number of transportation companies have also closed down in solidarity with the truckers’ nationwide strike.

Truck drivers in the city of Sirjan blocked a road on drivers who loaded goods despite the strike spreading throughout the country.

In Zahedan, fruit trucks emptied their loads in the city’s Sarallah Boulevard and joined this strike. They have also announced their support for the truck drivers.

A group of shop owners in Tehran-bazaar issued a statement in support of the truck drivers’ strike.

Iran: Truckers surpass 11th day of nationwide strike

Tens of thousands of truckers on strike across Iran

 Tens of thousands of truck drivers across Iran continued a nationwide strike on Friday, marking its 11^th consecutive day.

Truck drivers in Kermanshah and nearby cities in western Iran, Mashhad, Najaf Abad, Aligudarz and many other cities continued their protests on Friday. Beginning on May 22^nd, the drivers have spread their initiative to over 280 cities despite a variety of plots launched by the Iranian regime to cause rifts among their ranks.

These measures include repressive actions aimed at breaking the drivers’ will.

In the city of Dorud, western Iran, authorities arrested numerous drivers unwilling to have their vehicles loaded with goods.

In Amir Abad, northern Iran, repressive forces arrested several drivers after attacking their protest rally site.

In Zarrin Shahr, central Iran, anti-riot units took measures to disperse the drivers and truck owners protesting in the city’s fruit terminal. The protesting drivers attacked the regime’s units and forced them to flee the scene.

In Khorramdareh, northwest Iran, state police units intended to strip the license plates of trucks belonging to protesting truckers. The drivers resisted and forced the police to retreat.

The protest drivers are demanding an increase in their delivery rates, retirement pensions after 25 years of work, their field of work classified as harsh and demanding for the drivers, decrease in insurance fees, decrease in supplementary fees including road tolls and commissions demanded by each official at numerous terminals (all without any specific framework), decrease in the price of spare parts, the resignation of the truck drivers/owners union chief, and authorities to end their repressive measures against the drivers.

As this movement spreads, taxi drivers in Kermanshah and Bukan joined the protests by launching a strike on Thursday. On Wednesday, taxi drivers in Sanandaj also went on strike and joined the ranks of their trucker colleagues.

In recent days Snap taxi drivers – an agency affiliated to the Revolutionary Guards – also went on strike in the cities of Tehran, Tabriz, Yazd, Shirvan, Isfahan, and Shiraz.

Iran’s truckers continue nationwide strike into seventh day

Truckers are continuing their nationwide protest and general strike

Reports from a variety of Iran’s cities on Monday indicate truckers are continuing their nationwide protests and a growing general strike. These protests have expanded to 242 cities in all of Iran’s 31 provinces.

Bus drivers in various cities are also joining this expanding movement and expressing their solidarity.

Minibus drivers in Yazd, central Iran, were seen rallying in support of the truck drivers, holding a gathering outside the city’s Road & Transportation Dept.

Iran’s truck drivers are protesting low wages, skyrocketing prices of spare parts and other fees in this profession.

The truck drivers have provided a full list of their rightful demands:

1. A minimum 50 percent raise in paychecks for domestic and foreign transfers
2. Increase in monthly fuel ration so the drivers are not forced to purchase fuel at station rates
3. Respecting the drivers’ private lives
4. Adopting a new law to decrease commission fees from 14 percent to seven percent
5. Authorities to monitor commission fees received from the drivers, especially at terminals in major cities such as Tehran, Yazd, Bandar Abbas, Kerman and …
6. Drivers’ wages should be paid based on tons/kilometer so the rights of drivers and load owner are equally respected.
7. Decreasing social security insurance rates and including driving as a harsh task to receive special coverage
8. Decreasing road toll fees
9. Decreasing annual truck taxes
10. Establishing a faction in the Iranian regime’s parliament to support the country’s large transportation industry 

People from all walks of life are also protesting and seeking their demands.

Taxi drivers in Tehran and Isfahan are also on strike and express solidarity with their fellow truck driver colleagues.

Students of Tehran’s Art University rallied yesterday, protesting the transfer of their school to another location.

Such protests are becoming a major strain for Iran’s authorities.

Iranian regime security forces intend to “resolutely confront” protests, according to a judiciary spokesman on Sunday. Rallies and demonstrations are expanding as waves across the country with people raising major economic issues and fuel the protests into gaining political nature.

Three facts unveiled about Iran’s protesting truckers

General strikes are expanding rapidly in Iran

- Much like many other protests launched by various branches of Iran’s society, thousands of truck drivers in over 240 cities throughout the country’s 31 provinces began on May 21^st as drivers began a strike protesting difficult living conditions.

Unexpectedly, the scope of this face-off between the Iranian regime and its transportation officials, against the truck drivers that currently enjoy support amongst the general public regarding their strike, has caught everyone off guard.

This protest movement is currently highlighting three facts about Iran’s utterly protestive society.

Organization:

The spread of this general strike to cities all across Iran proves the organized nature and a highly coordinated structure being behind this unprecedented initiative. This protects the protesting truckers against a variety of threats and deceptive measures to be expected from Iranian regime authorities.

Powder keg ready to explode:

How this protest has developed, expanded and is supported by Iranians throughout the country comes from a society with a highly potential atmosphere to turn strongly against the ruling regime.

Regime’s failure to block Telegram:

Interesting is the fact that this protest, and its rapid expansion to numerous cities, has taken shape after the Iranian regime blocked Telegram, a popular messaging app used by over 40 million people in Iran. As a result, the organized nature of this protest movement indicates the truckers are in close contact and most likely using platforms such as Telegram. This goes to say the Iranian regime has failed to block messaging apps in its attempt to deny the Iranian people such a medium to coordinate anti-regime protests.

Conclusion:

The continuation and expansion of this general strike shows that more organized, widespread and radical protests depict a very grim future awaiting the ruling mullahs in Iran.