Protests Enter Eighth Day as Security Forces Clash with Tehran Merchants; Athletes Join Calls for Change
Police officers confronted businessmen outside Tehran's iconic Alaeddin Passage and deployed tear gas against protesters, according to videos obtained by Iran International. Witnesses reported similar scenes at nearby Charso Bazaar, where crowds gathered shouting "dishonorable" at security personnel.
Large sections of Tehran's historic bazaar remained shuttered despite authorities reportedly pressuring shop owners to resume business. The "Market Civil Protest" Telegram channel documented a significant deployment of security officers throughout the capital's commercial areas as the government attempted to restore normalcy following several days of closures.
The strike action extended beyond Tehran, with merchants in the southern cities of Marvdasht and Kazerun keeping their shutters down in solidarity with the nationwide movement.
Violence intensified in western Iran, where political prisoner Ahmad Reza Haeri released a letter alleging that the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Malekshahi personally opened fire on protesters using a machine gun. Reports indicate numerous casualties, while disturbing footage has emerged showing security forces allegedly attacking the city's hospital.
In another development, protesters lit fires on Saadi Street in central Tehran, demonstrating continued defiance despite the heavy security presence.
The crackdown has also targeted individuals, with human rights organization Hengaw reporting the arrest of Mehdi Seif, a 25-year-old teacher from
The protests have drawn support from prominent figures both inside and outside Iran. Prince Reza Pahlavi emphasized the importance of maintaining street closures and creating roadblocks to "prevent the regime's repression." The Kurdistan Komala Party issued a statement strongly backing the demonstrations and called for all sectors of society to join nationwide strikes while urging the international community to act against the government's suppression tactics.
Perhaps most notably, voices from Iran's sporting community have broken their traditional silence. Alireza Jahanbakhsh, captain of the Iranian national football team, posted an emotional message on Instagram describing witnessing "very difficult living conditions and economic pressure" during a recent visit home.
"A country with so much capital and talent," Jahanbakhsh wrote, lamenting that "management weakness, rents, and embezzlement have diminished the people's table and destroyed the aspirations of the youth."
Former national football team coach Mohammad Maylikohn also appealed to athletes to support the protests, stating: "Whatever athletes have, they have from the people."
Political analyst Reza Talebi offered sharp criticism of the government, declaring: "The Islamic Republic has not only denied the people, but also denied itself; it was neither a republic nor Islamic." He dismissed official explanations attributing unrest to economic factors and foreign interference as "delusional."
As night fell on Sunday, tensions remained high across Iran, with no indication that either protesters or authorities were prepared to back down in what has become one of the most significant challenges to the government in recent months.
Photo: Iran International