A volunteer member of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was killed in a western province during widespread demonstrations over the Islamic republic’s poor economy, officials said Thursday, the first death among security forces during the protests.
The death Wednesday night of a 21-year-old volunteer in the Guard’s Basij force could be the beginning of a tough response by Iran’s theocracy over the demonstrations, which have slowed in the capital Tehran but have spread to other provinces.
The state-run IRNA news agency reported the guard member’s death but did not provide details. Student News Network, an Iranian news agency considered close to the Basij, directly blamed protesters for the guard member’s death, citing comments by Saeed Pourali, the deputy governor of Iran’s Lorestan province.
“The Guard member was martyred at the hands of rioters during protests in this city to protect public order,” he reportedly said. He said 13 other Basij members and police officers were injured.
“The protests that have taken place are due to economic pressures, inflation and currency fluctuations, and are an expression of livelihood concerns,” Pourali said. “The voices of citizens must be heard carefully and tactfully, but people must not be pressured into their demands by profit-seeking individuals.”
The protest took place in the city of Kouhdasht, 250 miles southwest of Tehran.
Iran’s civilian government, led by reformist President Massoud Pezeshkian, has been trying to signal that it is willing to negotiate with protesters. However, Pezeshkian admitted he could not do much as Iran’s rial currency has depreciated sharply, with $1 now worth about 1.4 million rials.
Meanwhile, state television separately reported the arrest of seven people, five of whom it said were monarchists and two others it said were linked to European-based groups. State TV also said that in another operation, security forces seized 100 smuggled pistols, without elaborating.
The protests have become the largest in Iran since 2022, when nationwide demonstrations broke out following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. However, demonstrations have not yet become nationwide and have not been as intense as those surrounding the death of Amini, who was detained for not wearing a hijab or headscarf as authorities preferred.
Iran’s theocracy declared a public holiday across much of the country on Wednesday in an effort to draw people out of the capital for the long weekend, citing cold weather. Iranian weekends are Thursday and Friday, while Saturday is Imam Ali’s birthday, another holiday for many.
In protests based on economic issues, protesters have also been heard chanting slogans against Iran’s theocracy. The country’s leaders are still reeling after Israel launched a 12-day war against the country in June. The US also bombed Iranian nuclear sites during the war.
Iran has said it is no longer enriching uranium at any sites in the country, trying to signal to the West that it is open to possible negotiations over its nuclear program to ease sanctions. However, these talks have yet to take place as President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have warned Tehran against restructuring its nuclear program.
