In recent days, a wave of protests and strikes has emerged among truck drivers in Iran, rooted in deep economic, livelihood, and structural crises. The drivers initiated a strike in response to the sharp increase in transportation costs, low freight rates, the shortage and high cost of spare parts, the hike in diesel fuel prices from 600 tomans to 15,000 tomans per liter, and the lack of social support.
Despite the peaceful and labor-related nature of this protest movement, it was met with a harsh and repressive response from the government. During the course of the strikes, dozens of drivers across various provinces in Iran were arrested. Some have faced heavy charges such as “disruption of public order” or “incitement against national security.” In addition, there has been immense pressure on labor activists and their efforts to form or revive independent labor unions. These responses reflect a continued pattern in which labor demands are treated as security threats.
Freedom of Association: A Recognized and Fundamental Right
The right to form and join trade unions and to engage in collective action is one of the fundamental rights of workers, as recognized in international human rights instruments, including:
• ILO Conventions No. 87 and 98
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 23)
• The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 8)
As a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Iran is obligated to uphold these principles. However, in practice, the activities of independent unions in Iran face widespread restrictions, security crackdowns, and repeated threats.
Criminalization of Labor Activism: A Systematic Human Rights Violation
The response of security and judicial bodies to the truck drivers’ strike is a clear example of the criminalization of the right to organize and conduct union activities. This not only violates Iran’s international commitments but also contravenes the principles laid out in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran—particularly Articles 26 and 27, which allow for the formation of associations and peaceful assemblies provided they do not carry weapons or violate Islamic principles.
Nonetheless, the lived experiences of Iranian workers show that even the most basic forms of labor activism are met with threats, arrests, and deprivation.
The truck drivers’ strike is emblematic of the broader state of labor rights in Iran. The suppression of these protests is not merely a crackdown on a single professional group, but rather a reflection of the ongoing, structural denial of fundamental rights that are essential to human dignity and social justice.
The Hana Human Rights Organization:
In expressing full support for the truck drivers’ strike and condemning the repression and violation of their rights by the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hana Human Rights Organization demands that:
• All individuals arrested in connection with labor strikes be released unconditionally.
• The right to form, join, and operate independent unions and trade associations—free from governmental or security interference—be officially recognized.
• Iran honor its international obligations regarding freedom of association, collective bargaining, and protection of labor rights.
Silence in the face of this situation only serves to legitimize continued repression. Supporting the rights of workers—especially those in underrepresented and marginalized sectors—is a moral, legal, and humanitarian duty for all human rights organizations.