Iran is witnessing some of the largest and most sustained protests in years, with demonstrations spreading far beyond Tehran to cities and towns in all 31 provinces. What began in late December 2025 as protests over severe economic hardship has evolved into widespread civil unrest with deep political undertones, as Iranians express frustration with spiralling inflation, currency collapse and long-standing political repression.
Unrest has now continued for more than 12 days, with crowds gathering in the capital, Shiraz, Isfahan, Mashhad, Kermanshah and scores of other urban and rural centres. In at least 111 cities, people have taken to the streets to chant anti-government slogans and demand fundamental reforms, reflecting a clear escalation from localized strikes to a nationwide uprising.
Economic Pain Sparks Large-Scale Mobilisation
The protests were triggered by economic collapse and deteriorating living conditions. The Iranian rial has plummeted to record lows against the U.S. dollar, sparking widespread inflation and sharply higher prices for food, medicine and basic goods. This economic squeeze has hit ordinary Iranians hard, especially small traders, shopkeepers and working families.
The unrest initially began with shop closures and strikes at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, one of the country’s most iconic commercial hubs, before spreading to a wider population. In many cities, commercial districts remain shut as business owners join demonstrations in what analysts call a generalised expression of discontent.
Crackdown, Internet Blackouts and Communication Cuts
As protests intensified, Iranian authorities have dramatically restricted communications, cutting off internet and phone access nationwide in an attempt to hinder the organisation of demonstrations and the flow of information. Monitoring groups such as NetBlocks and Cloudflare report that the nation’s internet traffic plummeted by more than 98 percent, effectively isolating millions from digital communication.
This kind of digital blackout aligns with previous patterns of state suppression during unrest (including events in 2009, 2019 and 2022), but the breadth of the shutdown this time — across mobile, fixed and IPv6 connections — appears wider and more comprehensive.
Authorities have also reportedly disrupted telephone services, making communication even more difficult for both protesters and journalists attempting to report from within the country.
Violent Clashes and Rising Death Toll
The protests have frequently turned deadly. Rights groups and activists report that dozens of protesters have been killed in clashes with security forces. Estimates vary, but independent tallies indicate at least 45 people, including children, have died since the demonstrations began. Hundreds more have been wounded and thousands detained amid escalating violence.
Security forces — including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and state police — have employed live ammunition, tear gas, water cannon and beatings to disperse crowds, according to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. These organisations describe the use of force as unlawful and excessive in many instances.
Reports also allege raids on hospitals to detain wounded protesters, actions condemned by international rights advocates as violations of humanitarian norms.
Political Dimensions and Calls for Change
While economic grievances remain the immediate cause, the protests have increasingly taken on political dimensions. Slogans heard in demonstrations include rare, direct challenges to Iran’s ruling establishment, with many participants calling for systemic change and expressing dissatisfaction with the clerical leadership.
In a notable development, exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi issued calls for mass demonstrations. After one such call, protestors gathered in Tehran and other cities, which was followed by the government’s move to silence internet and phone services — a sequence that underscored how communication clampdowns are immediately deployed to stifle dissent.
Strikes, General Disruption and Broader Participation
Beyond street protests, the unrest has spurred broader social action. Merchants, traders, students and ethnic minority groups — including Kurdish organisations — have joined in strikes and demonstrations, expanding the movement’s reach and impact. Some calls for general strikes indicate growing coordination across sectors.
Economic shutdowns in markets and businesses have amplified the protest movement’s disruptive force, signalling that Iranian society’s frustrations are not limited to isolated pockets but extend to diverse constituencies nationwide.
Government Response and Rhetoric
Iran’s leadership has responded both rhetorically and through force. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed demonstrators as rioters influenced by foreign powers and warned that security forces will not back down. The government has also blamed external interference for exploiting domestic unrest, a narrative aimed at undermining protest legitimacy.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has offered limited economic policy responses and spoken of addressing grievances, but these measures have been widely perceived as inadequate by many Iranians whose purchasing power and living standards have deteriorated sharply.
International Reaction and Diplomatic Pressure
Internationally, the protests and the Iranian government’s response have drawn condemnation. Human rights organisations and foreign governments have criticised the deadly use of force against unarmed demonstrators and called for respect for freedom of expression and assembly.
U.S. political figures have issued warnings regarding further violence against protesters, suggesting potential diplomatic consequences if the crackdown continues. European leaders have also publicly voiced concern over the high death toll and systemic repression.
What Comes Next: Uncertainty and Escalation
The protests show no signs of abating — despite the brutal crackdown, communication blackouts and mass arrests. Their persistence reflects deep public frustration rooted in decades of economic challenges, political repression and limited democratic space.
Analysts caution that the situation remains highly unstable and could evolve in multiple directions: continued suppression, further escalation of civil unrest, or — if a meaningful political response is devised — a potential opening for negotiated reforms.
For now, Iranians continue to take to the streets, despite the risks, underscoring a profound moment of public dissent that may shape the country’s future trajectory.
