Mass arrests of oil workers, a fifth day of strikes at South Pars, and renewed protests by Social Security retirees signal a widening wave of resistance across Iran. From the oil industry to the streets, workers and retirees are chanting against executions and demanding the immediate freedom of imprisoned protesters and workers, as worker councils warn of escalating strikes and shutdowns if repression and detentions continue.
Oil workers arrested as strikes spread across energy sector and retirees protest nationwide
Mass arrests in the oil industry
According to reports from the Council for the Organisation of Protests by Official Oil Workers and the Council of Contract Oil Workers, dozens of oil workers are currently detained across multiple regions of Iran’s energy sector. Arrests have been reported in Asaluyeh, Kangan, Deir, Lamerd, and Parsian, with some workers identified and detained in their homes or company dormitories.
Among those arrested are workers from Omran Sahel Company, a contractor linked to the IRGC, who participated in strikes during January over unpaid wages and publicly expressed solidarity with the popular protests. In several companies across the South Pars Special Economic Zone, workers who were identified as protest participants have faced security pressure, temporary detention, or arrest.
Key developments include:
- Around 30 skilled project workers were released over the past month after heavy bail payments, reportedly following intervention by company management.
- Remaining detainees are being held without visitation or contact with their families in a warehouse facility belonging to Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters.
- Some arrested workers have been transferred to Bushehr and Shiraz prisons under newly fabricated security charges.
- Additional summonses and temporary arrests have affected workers at Negin Makran Petrochemical, Fajr Jam Gas Refinery, and Kangan Petro-Refinery, following strikes on 8, 9, and 17 January over wages and living conditions.
The councils representing contract and third-party oil workers have warned that if killings and arrests continue, they will escalate protest actions, including strikes and full shutdowns of production facilities, and have demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detained workers.
The Worker-communist Party has declared its full support for these demands and continues to campaign for the release of all oil workers and all those arrested during the January protests.
South Pars refinery strike enters fifth day
On 8 February, the strike by contract workers at South Pars Gas Refinery No. 10 (Asaluyeh) entered its fifth consecutive day. Workers are protesting:
- The removal of overtime from wage calculations
- Declining real wages
- Overcrowded and unsafe dormitories
- Housing shortages
- Management’s refusal to respond to workers’ demands
These strikes form part of the broader wave of labour protests linked to the January uprising and the deepening cost-of-living crisis.
Retirees protest in Shush and Rasht
On the same day, Social Security retirees held protest gatherings in Shush and Rasht, chanting:
- “Until the death penalty is abolished, we will stand to the end”
- “Free imprisoned protesters”
The demonstrations reaffirmed retirees’ determination to continue protesting against state murder, repression, and worsening living conditions.
Worker-communist Party of Iran
9 February 2026
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