Overall protests
Beginning on 28 December 2025, mass demonstrations erupted across multiple cities in Iran amid widespread dissatisfaction with the Islamic Republic government and a deepening economic crisis. While initially sparked by frustration over inflation, rising food prices, and the severe depreciation of the Iranian rial, the protests quickly evolved into a broader movement demanding an end to the current regime. [2] Beginning with shopkeepers and bazaar merchants in Tehran, the demonstrations soon spread to universities, drawing in large numbers of students from across the country. Demonstrators voiced anti-government slogans as well as pro-monarchist slogans, signalling their grievances to those in power as well as broader political demands. [3] [4] [5] The movement quickly became the largest outbreak of unrest in Iran since the 2022–2023 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. [6] [7] [8]
Initially concentrated in Tehran's bazaars, amongst Bazaari, the protests spread to major cities such as Isfahan, Shiraz, Mashhad, Qom, Bandar Abbas, Fardis, and Bojnurd. [1] [6] In Tehran, protests centred around the Grand Bazaar, where merchants staged strikes demanding government intervention, while footage shared on social media showed security forces using tear gas to disperse demonstrators. [6] As the demonstrations grew in size, protesters in multiple cities chanted for political change, including calls for freedom and explicit opposition to the government. [9] Following a call of Iranian crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, to protest, Tehran reportedly erupted in anti regime chants, such as "Death to the dictator!" and "Death to the Islamic Republic!", and "This is the last battle! Pahlavi will return!" [10] [11] In response, the Islamic Republic employed violent suppression tactics. [1] According to Norway-based Iran Human Rights NGO (IHRNGO), by 8 January 2026, at least 45 civilians had been killed by regime forces during the protests, including eight children. [12]
On 2 and 4 January, US president Donald Trump had threatened the Iranian government that the US would intervene and that the regime would be "hit very hard" if security forces were to kill protesters. [13] [14]
