The economic crisis that emerged with the US imposing unilateral sanctions against Iran after walking out of the nuclear deal and the rise in USD exchange rates negatively affect trade and life in Iran every day. Merchants and shopkeepers in Iran and Rojhilat (Eastern Kurdistan) had recently announced that they would go on strike if the economic situation continued. A strike was launched today when the USD rate increased again and declarations by shopkeepers and merchants were ignored. Shopkeepers and merchants in 31 provinces in Iran and Rojhilat have closed shop and gone on general strike.

PROVINCES PARTICIPATING IN THE STRIKE

According to ANF’s Tehran reporter, the provinces participating in the strike from the Eastern, Western, Southern, Central, Balochistan and other provinces are as follows:

Abadan and Genava in Southern Iran, Esfahan Rafsanjan and Mugan in the Esfan province, Zahiyadan in the Balochistan province, Kirman, Benderi Turkmen, Tabriz, Arak, Mashad, Borazcan, Zencan and Chabahar in the Central province.

BIGGEST BAZAARS IN TEHRAN ON STRIKE

The biggest interest in the strike comes from the shopkeepers in large bazaars in Tehran. The Grand Bazaar, Jewellers’ Bazaar, Siruz Bazaar, Seterxan Bazaar, Kirekar Bazaar and Western Bazaar shopkeepers and merchants are participating in the strike. There are thousands of shops in each one of these bazaars.

ROJHILAT JOINS IN

Bazaars from several provinces in Rojhilat have also joined the strike.

Shopkeepers and merchants in the Greve Sine province and its Saqiz, Meriwan, Bane, Degulan and Kamyaran provinces, Kirmanshan province capital Kirmanshan and Pawe province capital Urmis, as well as Serdesht, Piranshahr and Miyanduaw towns also refused to open shop today.

STATE FORCES TRY TO BREAK THE STRIKE

Meanwhile Iranian state forces have launched efforts to break the general strike in Rojhilat’s provinces. State forces have phoned shopkeepers and merchants in Firdevsi, the biggest bazaar in Sine, and asked them to open their shops and threatened to break their windows and shutters if they didn’t. The shopkeepers haven’t backed down despite threats.