1 / 9Iran is witnessing its largest protests in three years, the most serious unrest since 2022, when the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody sparked nationwide demonstrations. The unrest poses a major challenge to the Iranian state and marks the latest chapter in a long, unresolved crisis. Here’s a closer look. (Image: AP)
2 / 9The Trigger: An Economy Under Strain | Iran’s economy has been under pressure for years, but in recent months that strain has intensified sharply. The national currency has lost more than half its value in roughly a year. The cost of essential goods has surged, eroding household savings. Rising inflation has made daily life increasingly difficult for millions of Iranians. (Image: Reuters)
3 / 9Why the Anger Spilt Onto the Streets | The protests have been a long time in the making. The December currency crash followed a series of destabilising shocks. Tehran faced a severe water shortage. In June, a 12-day conflict with Israel exposed military vulnerabilities, with Iranian cities facing repeated strikes. During the conflict, the United States carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear-related sites. Long-standing US and Western sanctions linked to Iran’s nuclear programme have continued to strain the economy, while regional tensions and conflict have further weakened state finances. (Image: Reuters)
4 / 9How the Protests Spread | The protests began in Tehran on December 29, 2025, when merchants shut their shops after the Iranian rial fell to a record low against the US dollar. What started as peaceful demonstrations soon widened, with students from at least ten universities joining in. By January 1, 2026, unrest had spread beyond major cities into rural provinces. Several people have been killed in the violence, and many others have been arrested. Historically, merchants from Iran’s bazaars played a central role in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, when strikes helped bring clerical rule to power. (Image: Reuters)
5 / 9When Economics Turns Into Politics | Economic pressures are now reshaping public anger. One US dollar costs roughly 1.4 million rials. Official inflation stood at 42.5% in December. Food prices rose 72% year-on-year, while the cost of medical supplies and services increased by nearly 50%. (Image: Reuters)
6 / 9Where Protests Have Been Reported | Protests have been reported from several cities across Iran, spanning the west, centre and northeast of the country. Key locations include Kouhdasht, Kermanshah, Hamedan, Karaj, Malard, Isfahan, Lordegan, Yazd, Marvdasht, Shiraz and Mashhad, highlighting the wide geographic spread of the unrest. (Image: Reuters)
7 / 9Government’s Response | Tehran has combined outreach with force. President Masoud Pezeshkian described protesters’ demands as legitimate and urged action to improve economic conditions. The government acknowledged public anger over the economy and appointed a new Central Bank governor. A government spokesperson said authorities would hold direct talks with trade unions and merchants. At the same time, the paramilitary Basij militia has been deployed to suppress unrest. (Image: AP)
8 / 9What Do Protesters Want | The movement is not yet well organised, but it has broadened beyond merchants and students to include wider sections of society. Demonstrators from different backgrounds have called for an end to clerical rule, with some demanding free elections. Many chanted anti-government slogans, including “Death to the dictator,” a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In several locations, protesters voiced support for Iran’s former monarchy, chanting slogans such as “Long live the Shah.” Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last Shah and living in exile in the United States, expressed support online, calling for unity and change. (Image: AP)
9 / 9A History of Unrest | This is not Iran’s first wave of protests. Nationwide demonstrations over economic hardship erupted in 2017–18. In 2019, fuel price hikes triggered deadly unrest. In 2022, the “Women, Life, Freedom” protests broke out after the death of Mahsa Amini, led largely by women and young people. (Image: Reuters)
