President orders full probe into deadly protest incidents in Ilam
Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni sent a truth-finding delegation to Ilam on Tuesday to conduct a comprehensive investigation into recent deadly incidents in the western province, where people have joined widespread protests against economic crises and livelihood problems across the country.
The visit by the Interior Ministry’s delegation came after President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an order instructing Momeni to carry out a thorough investigation into all aspects of the incidents.
Pezeshkian urged the interior minister to fully examine the causes and factors behind the incidents in the city of Malekshahi, which saw the death and injury of several residents.
The chief executive also called for an investigation into the security forces’ response to the incidents and submitting a comprehensive report of the findings to the president’s office as soon as possible.
According to IRNA, several incidents occurred during a protest gathering in the city of Arkavaz, the center of Malekshahi County on Saturday. Clashes erupted the next day between protesters and security forces following a funeral ceremony held for those killed in the Saturday’s protests.
Protests in Iran broke out last week after shopkeepers in Tehran temporarily closed their businesses to protest the sharp fall of the national currency, which plunged to record lows against the US dollar.
Iranian officials have acknowledged the economic pressure facing the public and said peaceful protests are legitimate. At the same time, they have warned that foreign-backed elements are seeking to exploit the situation and fuel violence.