A widespread strike by Iranian truck drivers has expanded to over 100 cities, prompting a harsh response from the government in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj.

Experts on Iran have consistently advised U.S. administrations to support Iranian workers through strike pay and other assistance, aiming to improve human rights and foster internal regime change.

Truckers play a crucial role in sustaining Iran’s struggling economy.

Alireza Nader, an Iran expert based in Washington, D.C., suggests the Trump administration should publicly support the truckers, which would strengthen the U.S. position in nuclear negotiations. He also emphasized the importance of organizations to raise international awareness of the trucker strikes.

The U.S. is currently in talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program, seeking its dismantlement in exchange for easing sanctions.

Nader believes the strikes could cripple the Iranian regime, particularly if other sectors like energy and transportation join in.

Some opponents of the Iranian government advocate for the U.S. to emulate President Reagan’s support for Polish workers and unions during the communist era.

Prior to 1989, U.S. administrations worked with the American labor movement to promote democracy within trade unions in communist countries.

The strike, which began on May 18 in Bandar Abbas, is primarily driven by concerns over working conditions and rising insurance costs that have coincided with reduced medical care, according to reports.

The Union of Iranian Truckers and Heavy Vehicle Drivers is also calling for solutions to the lack of roadside assistance and corruption in cargo allocation.

The truckers are also demanding lower prices for spare parts, freight brokerage fees and increased diesel quotas, in addition to better security on Iranian highways.

The truckers’ union, as reported by IranWire, declared that protesting for dignity and basic needs is not a crime but a legal right.

Lisa Daftari, an Iran expert and editor-in-chief of the Foreign Desk, stated that the truckers’ strike reflects widespread discontent among Iranians denied basic rights across various industries. She argues that these uprisings demonstrate the Iranian people’s desire for international support in their fight for freedom and rights.

She argues that while this demand is fundamental, the current government has proven incapable of reform or providing Iranians with the life they deserve.

In 2019, the AFL-CIO urged Iran to release detained labor activists. In 2018, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), which represents many U.S. truckers, expressed solidarity with striking Iranian truck drivers in over 290 cities.