According to the state news agency Fars, two civilians were killed in clashes with security forces in the city of Lordegan.
“Some protesters began throwing stones at the city’s administrative buildings, including the provincial governor’s office, the mosque, the martyrs’ foundation, the city hall and banks,” the Fars news agency reports.
Earlier in the day, a member of the notorious Basij militia was reported to have been killed.
Dissatisfied shop owners
"A 21-year-old member of the Basij from the city of Kuhdasht was killed last night by insurgents while defending public order," state television reported, citing Lorestan province's deputy governor, Said Pourali.
Pourali also claims that additional militia members and police officers were injured.
In the evening, new clashes broke out in Azna in the western province of Lorestan. According to Fars, a police station was attacked. Three people were reportedly killed and 17 injured.
Meanwhile, security forces have arrested 30 people in Tehran accused of "disturbing public order," the state-linked Tasnim news agency reports.
The protests began when shopkeepers took to the streets on Sunday to express their discontent over skyrocketing costs and falling living standards. Since then, other social groups have joined in, and clashes with security forces have been reported from several parts of the country.
Sky-high inflation
The discontent is rooted in the ailing economy, with skyrocketing inflation and a currency that has collapsed. The US dollar was trading for about 1.42 million Iranian rials on Sunday compared to 820,000 rials a year ago, according to AFP.
The country's President Masoud Pezeshkian has tried to calm the mood by recognizing the protesters' "legitimate demands" and recently called on the government to take measures to improve the economic situation.
The authorities, for their part, have promised to take a "firm" position and have also warned against exploiting the situation to spread chaos.
