Truck Drivers’ Strike
In June 2025, more than 150 cities across the country witnessed a strike by truck drivers. They protested against the economic pressures caused by the reduction of fuel quotas, rising costs for insurance, tolls, repairs, and rents. Shortly after the strike was announced, many drivers were arrested, and some were accused of fuel smuggling. These accusations were officially denied, but authorities did not address the drivers’ issues. Instead, sectoral organizations were inactive, and parallel working groups were formed.
Consequences of the Strike
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Decline in exports and imports
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Increase in product prices
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Increased economic pressure
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Disruption in the supply chain of goods, and more…
Positions of Organizations and Social Reactions
The nationwide truck drivers’ and drivers’ unions in Iran, by issuing statements, fully supported the June 2025 nationwide strike. They strongly condemned the government’s repressive response, threats, and arrests without legal procedures, and demanded the unconditional release of the detained drivers.
Alongside them, official unions such as teachers, retirees of the steel and mining industries, retirees of the Telecommunications Company, and labor activists from various sectors expressed their solidarity and support for the truck drivers’ strike.
The Strikes Are Still Continuing
In August 2025, new protests took place:
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August 8: Truck drivers took to the streets against government policies, saying that even increasing fuel quotas could not solve their problems.
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Groups of drivers gathered in front of the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Trade and chanted slogans such as “The driver shouts, end the oppression” and “We want the immediate release of imported trucks seized in customs.” These trucks have been stuck for months in customs warehouses due to a shortage of around 4,000 trucks in the market.
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Other drivers demanded lower warehouse rental costs, fuel price cuts, and the continuation of strike action.
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August 13: Another group of drivers demonstrated in Tehran, continuing the protests.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
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Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
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Article 9: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.
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Articles 19 & 20: The right to freedom of opinion and expression; the right to peaceful assembly and association.
Conventions:
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Convention on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948)
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Convention on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949)
Defense of Human Rights Association in Iran
North Germany Region Representation
Translated by Alireza Jahan Bin
