Iran: 36 killed in protests against fuel price hike

At least 36 people have died since protests took place over the fuel price hike. On Sunday, Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei backed the government’s decision to hike fuel prices despite ongoing protests in the country.

“I am

not an expert in this field, but I had asserted before that I would back

whatever decision the heads of the three branches  make,” Khamenei said.

Protests

erupted across Iran on Friday after the government imposed petrol rationing and

raise in it’s fuel prices. According to officials, the new fuel policy, which

has seen prices rise by at least 50%, will raise money to help the poor.

Khamenei

also called on the government to take every step possible to alleviate people’s

economic concerns. “Authorities should use all their capacities to

minimize people’s concerns over gas rationing plan,” he said.

Iran has

been hit hard by the re-imposition of US sanctions last year, after US

President Donald Trump backed out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.