TRUCK drivers in Iran blocked roads and ports on Wednesday as part of their strike against low salaries, high insurance rates and a possible hike in fuel prices.

The strikes, which began last Thursday in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, one of the country’s main transport and shipping hubs, have now spread across Iran. 

The protests are slowly gaining steam and could develop into more serious protests against the government.

Last week, the Iranian government announced plans to massively increase the price of fuel for trucks from 15.14 cents (11.36p) per gallon to nearly $1.90 per (£1.43) gallon in late June. 

With huge resources of oil and gas, Iran has some of the lowest fuel prices in the world. 

Dissident Iranians expressed their support for the truckers. 

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, who was imprisoned on charges of collusion against state security and propaganda against Iran’s government, also expressed her support for the strike on X.

Iran said the plan was intended to prevent fuel smuggling into neighbouring countries such as Pakistan.

On Wednesday, Fatemeh Mohajerani, the spokesperson of the government’s cabinet, said lawmakers had discussed the strike in the cabinet meeting and the administration would consider the truckers’ needs.