President Pezeshkian Calls for Dialogue Amid Nationwide Protests

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged security forces to exercise "utmost restraint" against demonstrators who have been protesting for over 10 days.

In a recent statement, he called for peaceful engagement and emphasized that the government must listen to and address the public's legitimate economic grievances. Protests remain intense in major hubs like Tehran, Tabriz, and Mashhad.

 This marks the most significant internal pushback against a violent crackdown since the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests. While Pezeshkian attempts a moderate approach, the rapid depreciation of the Iranian Rial (exceeding 1.35 million per USD) makes immediate economic relief nearly impossible.

The president's call for "listening" is viewed by some as a tactical move to de-escalate street anger before the planned general strikes.

N.Tebrizli