1 Dead in Protests Across Iran Over Price Rise for Basic Goods

At least one person is reported killed as protests were held across Iran in the wake of a government decision to raise the costs of basic goods. Hundreds of people protested against the price hikes in cities throughout Iran, including the capital Tehran, according to state-run media reports.

The decision to raise prices on basic goods was announced on Monday and the price rises went into effect on Friday. The protests began on Saturday. The dead person was killed during a protest in southwestern Iran, though no information about the circumstances of the death nor his or her identity has been released.

Iran has been affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, seen in the rise in price of imported wheat, which affects government subsidies on bread and other goods. It is also suffering under the weight of crushing sanctions levied by the United States and other world powers over its nuclear program.