Social security and steel retirees rally in six cities against soaring prices

Social security and steel industry retirees rallied on Sunday, 18 October 2026, in at least six Iranian cities, including Tehran, Rasht, Kermanshah, Isfahan, Shush and Ahvaz, to protest soaring prices, the inability to afford living and medical costs, and repression. Videos sent in from the rallies show that many retirees gathered in front of Social Security Organization buildings.

The protesters' demands differed from city to city, but all revolved around one thing: pensions that no longer cover the cost of living. Steel and Zobahan retirees in Isfahan demanded free and continuous medical care, a fix for health insurance problems, payment of overdue entitlements, and raising pensions to 90 percent of the pay of active workers of the same grade.

Slogans from high prices to freeing prisoners

In Kermanshah, protesters chanted against the dollar rate, inflation and corruption, and against the shooting of citizens, and demanded the release of detained protesters, workers and teachers. They also shouted the name of labour activist Nahid Khodajoo; security forces detained her at her home about two weeks ago, and there is still no word on where she is being held.

In Rasht, retirees stressed solidarity among pension funds and called for death sentences to be revoked and for an end to oppression and corruption. In Tehran, the slogans were against inflation and embezzlement. In Shush, retirees of the Haft Tappeh sugarcane complex protested unemployment, homelessness, the commodification of healthcare and education, and the suppression of independent workers' organisations. In Ahvaz, protesters also spoke of food and medicine prices and of pensions lagging behind costs that rise with the dollar.

A pension of 63 dollars

The minimum wage this year is 16,625,000 toman a month. At the dollar rate of 262,500 toman on the day of the rally, that comes to about 63 dollars a month, a sum that, with high inflation in basic goods, does not even cover a family's food. It had also been reported earlier that dairy consumption in Iran has fallen to less than half the recommended amount.

The retirees' protest continues as, in the Islamic Republic's parliament, a plan to stabilise the dollar and cut cash subsidies for more income deciles has been put forward. The retirees' weekly rallies have become one of the most enduring forms of protest in Iran in recent years, and their slogans have moved from livelihood demands to protest against repression and executions.

Retirees in six Iranian cities chanted at the same time against high prices, corruption and death sentences.