Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Jan 1: Protests across Iran intensified on Wednesday evening, with demonstrators setting fire to a building in Asadabad city of Hamadan province in western Iran, according to footage circulated on social media by independent Iranian journalists and media outlets.

Unverified reports claimed the targeted structure was a base of the Basij paramilitary forces, though this could not be independently confirmed. Iranian semi-state news agency ISNA reported that a Basij officer was killed during the unrest.

Iran International reported that local security forces opened fire and used tear gas to disperse protesters in Asadabad. Despite the crackdown, demonstrators reportedly continued to remain on the streets.

Protests have spread across several cities, with demonstrators chanting slogans against the Islamic regime and expressing support for exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi. In Dehloran, protesters were heard chanting, “This is the national slogan: Reza, Reza Pahlavi.”

Footage shared by Radio Farda showed protesters marching in Khorramabad, in western Lorestan province, chanting, “Iranian, shout out, scream for your right.” In the central city of Arak, demonstrators were filmed raising anti-regime slogans such as, “Basiji, IRGC, you are ISIS,” according to videos shared by IranWire.

Earlier in the day, protesters reportedly attempted to break into a local government building in Fars province in southern Iran. The current wave of protests began on Sunday among shopkeepers in Tehran over soaring inflation and the sharp decline in the value of the Iranian rial. By Tuesday, demonstrations had spread to several universities in the capital, signalling a widening of the unrest.

Authorities have not yet issued a detailed official statement on the incidents as tensions continue to simmer across multiple regions of the country.