Iranian retirees hold protests in multiple cities over pension and healthcare

Social Security retirees in Iran held a series of protests across multiple cities, including Ahvaz, Shush, Rasht, and Tehran, to demand improvements to their living conditions. The demonstrators are protesting against low pension payments, high inflation, and delays in receiving owed benefits.

Protesters emphasized that current pensions are insufficient to cover even half of their monthly expenses. Key demands include increasing pensions in proportion to the actual cost of living, full implementation of salary adjustment laws, and ensuring access to free, high-quality healthcare.

In addition to economic grievances, retirees expressed concerns regarding the management of Social Security Organization assets and Shasta. They argued that these assets, accumulated from workers' insurance contributions, should not be sold to cover government debts or liquidity shortages.

Separate protests were also reported involving steel industry retirees in Isfahan regarding supplemental insurance and healthcare issues, as well as housing project applicants in Shiraz and job seekers in Hoveyze.