Large-scale protests have continued in Iran since late December 2025, beginning on December 28 with a strike by business owners in Tehran. Merchants shut shops in bazaars and shopping centers, citing soaring prices, the collapse of the rial, and looming bankruptcies. Students soon joined them, and economic demands quickly gave way to political ones.
According to Iran International, demonstrations were held over the past week in at least 113 locations across 46 cities. This is the biggest wave of unrest since the 2022 protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini. In several places, rallies turned into clashes with security forces. Associated Press, citing Iranian officials and rights groups, reports at least 10 deaths. Hengaw said late Friday that it had identified 133 detainees.
HRANA also reports arrests and violence. According to the group, 15 women were transferred to Tehran’s Evin prison, and detained minors include 16-year-olds from Gachsaran and Yasuj who were taken to an unknown location. Iran International says at least 44 people were wounded by live fire or pellet weapons used by Iranian security forces.
The new wave of protests was driven by a severe economic crisis. Reuters reports that in 2025 the Iranian rial lost about half its value against the dollar, December inflation reached 42.5%, and the exchange rate stood at about 1.4 million rials per dollar. Against this backdrop, shops have closed, small businesses have been unable to continue operating, and strikes have spread.
“We realized that under this regime we have no future,” one student involved in the protests told The Guardian.
So far, the authorities have combined conciliatory rhetoric with coercion. Ali Khamenei acknowledged the right to protest rising prices but said that “rioters must be put in their place.” President Masoud Pezeshkian said he had ordered officials to listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands.” The Economist argues that the movement’s chances are limited by the weakness of the opposition, though outside factors, including threats of U.S. intervention and possible escalation involving Israel, could alter the situation.