ILNA Audio File Says Iran MP Reported Killing Protester As Qalibaf Meets Raisi

Protests in Iran continued in several cities as the state news agency ILNA published an audio file in which a member of parliament reports the killing of one of the protesters.

“Protests in Iran; release of an audio file confirming the killing of a protester”

BBC

The BBC said the U.S. State Department expressed support for the protests, with Ned Price describing Iranian protesters as brave people who stood up to claim their rights on his X account.

BBC

The BBC reported that Sunday night also saw protests in various cities and that the Iranian government announced measures to counter the protests, including temporarily providing subsistence assistance to the public to begin its plan to roll out ration coupons.

The BBC added that Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, Speaker of the Parliament, met with President Ebrahim Raisi, while the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade (Samat) emphasized that cash subsidies will be eliminated and people will instead receive goods.

The BBC also reported that Ahmad Avayi, the Dezful representative in Iran’s parliament, denied the report yesterday and said his interview with ILNA had been distorted and inaccurately reported.

In the dispute over casualties, the BBC reported that Avayi said he had no confirmation of casualties or deaths of any citizen or protester and that he only referred to some claims circulating online, stressing that ambiguities must be resolved.

The BBC said ILNA responded to Avayi’s remarks by releasing the interview audio, while major domestic news agencies and leading newspapers in Iran remained silent about these protests.

DW

Separately, mojahedin.org said the nationwide uprising had reached its 153rd day on Wednesday, 26 Bahman 1401, and claimed protests had been recorded in more than 282 cities with 750 martyrs and 30,000 arrests.

mojahedin.org also said that to date the names and details of 647 of the uprising's martyrs had been announced by the Mojahedin Organization.

The BBC reported that protests across various parts of Iran had been met with security forces and the deployment of anti-riot units in restive cities, with reports of mass arrests, shootings, and deaths of protesters.

As the government moved to counter unrest, the BBC reported that the Iranian government announced measures to counter the protests, saying it would temporarily provide subsistence assistance to the public to begin its plan to roll out ration coupons.

“Wednesday, 26 Bahman 1401, coinciding with the 153rd day of the nationwide uprising of the Iranian people”

mojahedin.org

Tabnak, citing ISNA, quoted Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf saying, "We must engage in dialogue with the protesters; their protests are legitimate," and added that all efforts should be directed toward achieving economic stability.

Tabnak also quoted Ghalibaf saying, "Protests must be heard," and that the basis for changes should be in favor of the people while those connected to intelligence services and tasked to seize and inflame protests should be confronted intelligently and effectively.

The BBC reported that in the past week, amid political pressure, rising prices and shortages of essential goods, labor and political protests have intensified in Iran.

Tabnak further stated that Ghalibaf said the preferential currency is not removed and that the government’s pledge is to increase the ration-card credit with inflation and gradual price changes in later periods.