Yusef Jalali
Press TV, Tehran
Planned nationwide strikes were supposed to start on Monday across Iran, based on social media posts that have been calling for business owners to roll down their shutters for three days. A quick stroll on the streets of Tehran, however, shows that all the fuss is limited to the virtual world.
The country has been gripped by street violence for ten weeks now, with anti-government protests claiming the lives of civilians and security forces. Now the same protesters have called for a three-day strike, marking the anniversary of the national Student Day in the country.
Videos circulating on social media show some shops in Tehran's Grand Bazaar seemingly closed. People say, however, that these shopkeepers have closed their shops in fear of vandalism by protesters.
The Islamic Republic says what's happening on social media is not a true reflection of what's actually taking place on the ground. Over the past days, Iranian officials have been calling for a national dialog to "stop the enemy from fishing in troubled waters."