Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Jan 4: Sporadic protests have erupted in Iran’s capital Tehran and several other cities, with reports of intensified clashes in the western parts of the country, according to local media.

The demonstrations began on December 28 after shopkeepers launched a strike over economic grievances. Over the past week, the protests have gradually expanded in size and scope, with demonstrators also raising political demands.

Al Jazeera correspondent Tohid Asadi, reporting from Tehran on Sunday, said the protests have not yet taken on a nationwide character. “From time to time and sporadically, we witness protests, such as last night in Tehran, Kazerun and other cities,” he said, adding that at least 14 people, including security personnel, have been killed since the unrest began.

He warned that further escalation was possible if the government failed to take “concrete and practical actions” to address the concerns of the people.

Semi-official Fars news agency described Saturday evening’s protests in Tehran as “limited”, saying they generally involved groups of 50 to 200 young people. Tehran, Iran’s largest city, has a population of around 10 million.

According to Fars, demonstrations were reported in several areas of the capital, including Tehran Pars in the east; Ekbatan, Sadeghieh and Sattarkhan in the west; and Naziabad and Abdolabad in the south. Protesters were heard shouting slogans such as “death to the dictator”. No major incidents were reported beyond stone-pelting and the burning of rubbish bins.

However, the situation was said to be more volatile in western Iran. In Malekshahi county, which has a significant Kurdish population, clashes reportedly left a member of the security forces dead. Fars claimed that protesters attempted to storm a police station, during which two assailants were killed.

State-run media have played down the scale of the protests, while videos circulating on social media showed demonstrations in cities such as Isfahan and Shiraz on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first remarks on the protests on Saturday, drawing a distinction between protesters and rioters. “We talk to protesters. Officials must talk to them,” the 86-year-old leader said, but added that “there is no benefit in talking to rioters”.

Asadi noted that Khamenei’s comments acknowledged the country’s economic hardships, lending some legitimacy to the protests, while also making it clear that the government would not tolerate violence.