Hussain Hazbavi 
Bakery workers in Ahvaz took to the streets on Saturday as part of a wave of coordinated protests across Iran, demanding immediate government action amid crippling economic pressures and long-overdue subsidy payments.
In central Ahvaz, dozens of bakers rallied outside local government offices, holding banners that read, “We are bakers, not slaves. Hear our voice,” and chanting, “Enough with the promises, our tables are empty.” The protests echoed similar demonstrations in cities like Isfahan, Kermanshah, Qom, and Mashhad.
Bakers in Ahvaz expressed outrage over skyrocketing costs of raw materials, fuel, and insurance, which they say have made it nearly impossible to sustain their businesses. Many blamed the government’s failed integrated subsidy system and delays under President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration for pushing them to the brink.
“We’re drowning in expenses while the promised support never arrives,” said one protester. Others highlighted the impact of repeated power outages, which have caused major losses. A widely shared video from Ahvaz showed a distressed baker smearing spoiled dough on his face to symbolize the daily frustration caused by electricity cuts.
This weekend’s demonstration follows weeks of similar protests outside municipal and governorate offices in Ahvaz. At several gatherings, angry chants were directed at what protesters called “incompetent officials,” with calls for their resignation growing louder.
For many bakers in Ahvaz, the protest was not just about rising costs—it was a plea for survival.
