The security apparatus of Iran’s ruling regime is intensifying efforts to suppress the growing wave of labor protests by arresting union activists and striking truck drivers across various cities. Despite these crackdowns, the Union of Truck Drivers’ and Drivers’ Associations Across Iran has reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing justice.
Iran Human Rights Society, Wednesday, 7 Khordad 1404 (May 28, 2025) – In response to the nationwide strike by truck drivers in Iran, protesting the rising costs of parts, reduced fuel quotas, expensive insurance, road tolls, and unfair working conditions, the security apparatus of the ruling dictatorship has resorted to widespread repression and arrests of drivers and union activists in an attempt to suppress this protest movement.
On the morning of Tuesday, 6 Khordad 1404 (May 27, 2025), two truck drivers, Kaweh Moradian and Rezgar Moradi, were arrested in Sanandaj by Intelligence Ministry forces for participating in a protest rally on the Sanandaj-Marivan road. Local sources confirm that these arrests were directly linked to their involvement in the recent strikes.
Additionally, Siddiq Mohammadi, a transit truck driver from Sanandaj, was targeted and arrested by security forces for expressing solidarity with the strike. Informed sources emphasize that his arrest was solely due to his support for his colleagues.
In a separate development in Islamabad-e Gharb, Shahab Darabi, a well-known driver and blogger in the trucking community, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location after posting a video protesting economic policies and the livelihood pressures faced by drivers. His Instagram page, dedicated to advocating for drivers’ demands, had previously been blocked by security authorities. A distressing video circulating on social media shows the moment of Darabi’s arrest, with his mother crying out, “They took my son!” This footage highlights the profound psychological toll on the families of those detained.
As the truck drivers’ strike has spread to over 130 cities, reports indicate an escalation in arrests and threats against drivers. According to some sources, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has deployed military trucks to mitigate the strike’s impact on the supply chain for agricultural products while simultaneously collaborating with security forces to suppress protesters.
According to ISNA news agency, Kamran Mirhajji, the prosecutor of Shiraz, announced the arrest and filing of cases against several truck drivers, threatening other protesters with severe consequences. He stated, “Security and law enforcement agencies have identified and arrested individuals who, in cyberspace or on the roads, obstructed the movement of cargo-carrying trucks.” He further accused protesters of “attacking” other trucks, adding, “Some malicious individuals have assaulted and harassed truck drivers who were pursuing their legitimate demands through legal channels.”
Statement by the Union of Truck Drivers’ and Drivers’ Associations Across Iran
In response to these threats, the Union of Truck Drivers’ and Drivers’ Associations Across Iran issued a resolute statement:
“In the name of justice, in the name of the road, in the name of the endless toil of wheels that refuse to be silenced…
On the sixth day of the nationwide strike, the steadfastness and resolve of honorable drivers across the country shone anew. Six more cities joined this great uprising, adding to the number of participating cities. The courageous Nissan drivers in Quchan and Golpayegan, understanding our shared plight, extended their hand of solidarity to truck drivers.
The magnificent parade of truck drivers in Arak was an unyielding cry of unity, dignity, and resilience—a clear response to all threats, empty promises, and overt and covert pressures.
But today, a bitter piece of news ignited the flames of anger in the hearts of all drivers: the arrest of 11 of our colleagues in Kermanshah.
We declare unequivocally that these actions will not weaken our resolve in the slightest; rather, they make us more determined. Hundreds of brave drivers in Kermanshah gathered in front of the provincial governor’s office in response to this injustice. We, across all of Iran, stand behind them.
We demand the immediate and unconditional release of our colleagues and warn: suppression, arrests, and threats are not a response to legitimate demands; they are a sign of desperation in the face of our surging wave of justice.
We will not relent until our rights are secured—fair wages, proper insurance, road safety, and human dignity.
This is our path. This is our voice. And this unity is unbreakable.
Glory to the honorable drivers of Iran.
Union of Truck Drivers’ and Drivers’ Associations Across Iran, 6 Khordad 1404 (May 27, 2025)”
Repression of Drivers and Truckers: A Clear Violation of International Human Rights Law
This statement clearly demonstrates the drivers’ firm commitment to continuing their struggle for labor rights. The suppression of peaceful strikes constitutes a blatant violation of the rights to freedom of assembly, expression, and association, as enshrined in Articles 19, 21, and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Arbitrary arrests without judicial warrants, transfers to undisclosed locations, threats against families, and denial of fair trial rights are all stark examples of human rights violations by the regime.
The ruling dictatorship, by intensifying its crackdown and issuing heavy sentences against various groups—including workers, teachers, students, and now truck drivers—seeks to silence society through fear and violence to prevent the recurrence of popular uprisings. However, evidence suggests that labor and popular protests are not only undeterred but are becoming increasingly organized, coordinated, and widespread.
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