Since 18 May 2025, truck drivers across Iran have turned off their engines — not out of road fatigue, but out of deep frustration with broken promises, rising costs, and an economy shaped by corruption and neglect. What started in the southern port of Bandar Abbas quickly spread to more than 100 cities, marking one of the largest and most sustained labour actions in recent Iranian memory.
The protest began with three urgent demands:
- Opposition to the new three-tier diesel pricing system, which has raised costs to unsustainable levels.
- Restoration of subsidized fuel quotas, slashed from 3,000 litres to 500.
- A rise in freight fees, which have remained stagnant despite soaring inflation and increased operational costs.
Drivers say that with the price of non-subsidized diesel reaching 42,000 tomans (about $0.80) per litre, many are pushed to the brink of bankruptcy. Road safety has also deteriorated significantly, with outdated infrastructure, a rise in cargo thefts, and even physical threats making the job increasingly dangerous.
Half the Pay, Full the Work
One of the drivers’ main grievances is systematic underpayment. Though official freight rates are recorded in barnameh documents, much of the payment is skimmed off by freight brokers — often connected to semi-private companies backed by state institutions.
The Tehran Bus Workers’ Syndicate, in a statement of solidarity condemned this arrangement, noting that broker commissions have increased from 13% to as high as 45%, while drivers’ fees have remained unchanged. The union also cited widespread illegal charges for renewing smart cards and other work permits, with little oversight or recourse.
“Truckers are left with a fraction of their real earnings,” the statement says, “while middlemen and affiliated firms profit off their labour, with impunity.”
This structure is rooted in Iran’s privatization policies from the early 2000s, which handed key industries to politically connected firms with little transparency.
The video on the left features a truck driver explaining that, given the current harsh economic conditions and the heavy workload, drivers’ mental health is seriously affected — which, in turn, also undermines public safety. In the video on the right, a worker from Tehran’s central fruit and vegetable distribution hub explains that, due to the truck drivers’ strike, agricultural products are not being transported, and the limited goods available have become more expensive.
Health Insurance
One of the key demands in the union’s statement relates to the explosive rise in insurance premiums. Since February, the monthly cost of health insurance for self-employed drivers has risen by over 220%, reaching more than 3.3 million tomans. Yet access to healthcare has not improved.
“Why should we pay this much,” one driver asked in a widely shared video, “for a health card that most clinics don’t even accept?”
Though Iranian law obliges the state to cover part of independent drivers’ insurance, the government has failed to meet this obligation. In many cases, insurance contributions are deducted from drivers’ pay but never transferred to insurance providers — rendering their policies useless in emergencies.
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Poor Infrastructure
Beyond wages and fuel, the strike has brought attention to the deteriorating condition of Iran’s transportation system:
- Unsafe roads, poor lighting, and a lack of road signs are cited as major contributors to accidents. Drivers estimate these factors are responsible for over 60% of crashes.
- Rest areas and roadside services are nearly non-existent on many key routes. Emergency medical centres, repair stations, and clean rest stops are rare.
- Spare parts and tyres are either unaffordable or low-quality, increasing the risk of breakdowns and accidents.
- Many drivers operate aging trucks they cannot afford to replace or repair.
- Truckers crossing borders face dangerous conditions near frontier zones, including theft and attacks.
Drivers also report being forced to pay unofficial fees at some ports and freight terminals, despite receiving no services in return.
Organized Without Unions
In a country where independent labour unions are banned and state-controlled media rarely cover worker protests, Iranian truckers have turned to social media to organize and communicate.
With no formal trade organization to coordinate them, drivers are using Instagram and other platforms to share videos, updates, and strike instructions. This decentralized, peer-led form of organizing has become increasingly common in Iran, especially among groups excluded from official political or media channels.
Videos show drivers explaining the strike, documenting road conditions, and describing their daily challenges — from unpaid fees to roadside dangers. These clips have helped the broader public better understand the reality of drivers’ lives and work.
Despite ongoing internet censorship and attempts by authorities to suppress digital organizing, these platforms have become powerful tools for building solidarity and undermining state narratives.
A Long History of Protest
This is the third national strike by truck drivers in a decade. In both 2018 and 2022, protests erupted with similar demands — but instead of solutions, the state responded with repression. In 2018, more than 180 drivers were arrested, with some charged with “enmity against God,” a capital offence.
The legacy of those crackdowns casts a long shadow. Yet despite fears of renewed arrests, drivers are again refusing to stay silent.
So far, Iranian authorities have shown little urgency. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has promised to “review the situation,” but no concrete action has followed. Meanwhile, Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development has sparked outrage by visiting infrastructure sites in Iraq while the crisis at home continues. Online backlash has been swift and intense.
At the same time, some government officials have attempted to downplay the protests. Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development, claimed that only “a limited number of drivers” were trying to stir unrest — blaming so-called “hostile foreign media” for encouraging the strike and portraying the roads as unsafe.
He acknowledged that fuel prices, insurance, and the high cost of spare parts were major concerns, but added that these were “not directly related” to his ministry. He promised that problems would be solved within a month, yet rejected strikes and protests as a valid method for raising grievances — a stance that many drivers see as both dismissive and out of touch.
A Strike Turning Political
Though rooted in workplace grievances, this strike has become a symbol of broader resistance — not only against economic injustice, but also against censorship, exclusion, and unaccountable governance.
The drivers’ demands — transparent insurance, fair wages, safe roads, and a voice in shaping policy — mirror those of many working Iranians today. And as grassroots organizing continues to grow, the potential for a unified labour front is no longer just a dream.
If this movement finds solidarity among other sectors — teachers, pensioners, health workers, and industrial labourers — it could evolve into something far more powerful: a collective call for structural change.
As the Tehran Bus Workers’ Syndicate declared:
“Strike and protest are the legal rights of workers. The way forward is unity and organization.”
In some cities, striking drivers have clashed with strikebreakers.
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