RFERL:

An Iranian teachers' organization has blamed the country's recent outbreak of protests on inflation, poverty, unemployment, and "mismanagement by state officials."

In a statement posted on the social-media app Telegram on January 12, the Teachers Trade Unions Coordination Council (TTUC) said Iranians were protesting "poor economic conditions, systematic discrimination and corruption, as well as poverty and social injustice."

The TTUC added that its own requests to hold peaceful demonstrations in recent years had regularly been rejected by the government and its statements about the dire situation of average Iranians were routinely ignored.

The statement complained about "untenable management at various levels…as well as widespread abuse of official positions."

Iran's Independent Trade Unions on January 5 issued a similar statement, saying: "For years, we said our wages did not allow us to make ends meet, but our voice was never heard."

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