ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) paramilitary force said on Wednesday one of their members was killed in the western province of Lorestan while clashing with “opportunistic elements affiliated with the enemy”. The development came as nationwide protests over economic stagnation entered the fourth day.
“We inform the Iranian people of the martyrdom of one of the devoted members of the Basij and security forces, the martyr Amir Hosam Khodayari Fard, and the injury of 13 of his comrades from the Basij forces while carrying out their duty to maintain security and order in the city of Kuhdasht,” semi-official Mehr News Agency quoted an IRGC statement as saying.
Basij is generally under the command of the supreme leader of the country and is believed to be a formidable disciplinary organisation enforcing the principles of the state ideology.
“The unjust martyrdom of this young Basij member and the injury of his comrades, following a sudden and violent act carried out by opportunistic elements affiliated with the enemy in the city of Kuhdasht—an act executed by influencing, distorting, and exploiting the atmosphere of popular protests—stands as an example of the commitment and sacrifice of the Basij members in this border region in establishing stability and security,” added the IRGC.
The demonstrations entered their fourth consecutive day on Wednesday after Tehran shopkeepers began protesting on Sunday as the currency fell to record lows against the US dollar. Protests have since spread to several cities across the country.
Iran’s currency has fallen to record lows on the unofficial market, with the US dollar trading at about 1.42 million rials on Sunday, up from 820,000 rials a year ago.
On Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met labor leaders and pledged to listen to protesters’ “legitimate demands” while working to protect livelihoods, according to Mehr News Agency.
On Wednesday, he appealed for unity and claimed that foreign actors are behind the unrest