According to local media reports, Iranian authorities arrested bus drivers who demonstrated in Tehran for the second consecutive day to demand higher fares.
“The drivers were arrested (on Monday) at a rally in front of the headquarters of the transportation company in Tehran. Other drivers were arrested during the demonstration, ”Mohsen Bagheri, an official for the Tehran Public Transport Company, said on Tuesday, quoted by ILNA. news agency. .
Bakiri did not mention the reason for the arrest of the drivers nor did he specify the number of drivers and said he hoped they would be released soon.
“Workers don’t want illegal, they just want a legal increase in their wages,” he said.
The reformist newspaper “Sharq” reported that dozens of bus drivers who went on strike in Tehran staged a demonstration to denounce disregard for the Supreme Labor Council’s decision and demand a 10% increase in salaries.
The demonstrators chanted hostile slogans at Tehran’s mayor, Alireza Zakani, accusing him of “incompetence” and calling for his resignation, according to a video clip released by “Sharq.”
Iran’s economy is suffering heavy US sanctions and official data shows inflation at around 40%.
And last week, Tehran announced a series of measures, including removing flour subsidies and raising the prices of certain foods, such as oil and dairy products.
After that, hundreds of people took to the streets to show up in various Iranian cities, mainly in Tehran province, according to the official IRNA news agency.
Source: “AFP”
Source: Arabic RT
