Steel pensioners are protesting the termination of their health insurance, while anger is growing over internet shutdowns that are deepening economic crisis and repression. At the same time, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign continues inside prisons, backed by a global movement.
From workplaces to prisons and internationally, resistance is growing—against repression, executions, and the regime itself:
Pensioners protest, internet shutdown sparks backlash, anti-execution campaign grows
30 April 2026
Steel pensioners protest loss of health insurance
On Wednesday, 30 April, a group of steel industry pensioners in Isfahan gathered in front of the governor’s office to protest the termination of their health insurance. At the same time, steel pensioners in Tehran rallied outside the Steel Pension Fund building, demanding the restoration of their insurance coverage.
According to the pensioners, their contract with Atieh Sazan Hafez expired at the start of the year. It was temporarily extended under wartime conditions until the end of April, but for the past nine days they have been left without supplementary medical insurance. Protests are ongoing.
Widespread opposition to internet shutdowns
The Islamic Republic continues to carry out repression under the cover of internet shutdowns. This policy has also inflicted heavy damage on the already collapsing economy, leading to mass unemployment.
Protests against these shutdowns—and against the introduction of tiered or restricted internet access—are growing. Statements have been issued by nurses, journalists, teachers, lawyers, and other sectors.
The Tehran E-Commerce Association, in a statement titled “Internet shutdowns take us back to the Stone Age,” condemned over 100 days of disruptions and their devastating impact on the economy. The statement emphasised that internet access is a basic right and must not be restricted or distributed unequally under any pretext.
A broad wave of protest is now emerging across different professions and social organisations.
“No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign continues
On Tuesday, 29 April, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign marked its 118th week, continuing across 56 prisons despite wartime conditions and repression. News of the protest spread despite internet shutdowns.
At the same time, a global campaign against executions, imprisonment, and internet shutdowns concluded on 28 April. According to organisers, this unprecedented international mobilisation was supported by nearly 175 political and social organisations inside and outside Iran, with dozens of actions held worldwide.
The campaign focused on three key demands:
- Release of political prisoners
- Immediate halt to executions and abolition of the death penalty
- Free and universal access to the internet
This global movement represents a powerful and growing force for collective struggle against repression and for advancing the Woman, Life, Freedom revolution.
Iranian football officials denied entry to Canada
On 29 April, Canadian border police prevented Mehdi Taj, head of the Islamic Republic’s Football Federation, along with other officials, from entering Vancouver and returned them to Iran.
Under Canadian immigration law, Taj is ineligible to enter the country due to his past role in the IRGC, which Canada has designated as a terrorist organisation. Despite this, the Liberal government led by Mark Carney had previously granted him a temporary permit to attend the FIFA Congress scheduled for 1 May in Vancouver under “strict conditions.”
Canada designated the IRGC as a terrorist organisation in June 2024. At the same time, Iranian football officials were absent from the Asian Football Confederation’s annual meeting in Vancouver, officially attributed to “visa issues.”
Call for global isolation of the regime
Given its systematic violation of basic human rights and widespread crimes against the people, the Islamic Republic must be globally boycotted, and its representatives expelled from all international institutions.
Worker-communist Party of Iran
30 April 2026
