After the price of gasoline was raised by 200 percent on Friday in Iran, people in cities across the country including Mahshahr, Khorramshahr, Ahvaz, Omidiyeh, Sirjan, Gachsaran, Shiraz, Zahedan, Mashhad, and Behbahan took to the streets in protest. Security forces started shooting at the protesters in Ahvaz and Sirjan in the evening and at least one protester was shot in the head killed by the security forces in Sirjan.

In Sirjan, protesters set fire to a gas station and chanted: “Rouhani, have some shame, leave the country alone.” Security forces opened fire at the protesters and at least one protester was killed.

In Ahvaz, protesters chanted against the high prices and the incompetence of the Islamic Republic officials. After the protesters faced the police force they started to chant: “Don’t be afraid, we’re all in this together.” Based on the videos that Iran International has received, the security forces tried to disperse the crowd by shooting.

In Zahedan, the protesters were attacked and beaten by the police.

In Mahshahr, the protesters set fire to car tires in the streets and in Behbahan, people chanted: “No to Gaza, no to Lebanon, I sacrifice my life, only for Iran.”

In a meeting with government officials on Friday, President Rouhani claimed that the decision to increase the price of gasoline was in fact for the benefit of the people and mainly the poor.

MP Alireza Mahjoub had called the decision “setting fire to the life of the poor”.