Key Takeaways
- Anti-government protests in Iran have grown in size and violence since late December 2025
- The protests are being led by business owners, retail and factory workers, and have spread to university students and everyday Iranians
- The Iranian authorities have begun a severe crackdown on the demonstrations, with over 500 people reportedly killed since December 28
- The protests have reached 111 cities and all 31 of Iran’s provinces, with the government restricting access to basic forms of communication and implementing a total internet blackout
- The movement is being fueled by economic grievances, including a historic low for the Iranian rial and high levels of unemployment
Introduction to the Protests
The anti-government protests in Iran have been gaining momentum since late December 2025, with the movement spreading rapidly across the country. The protests, which began with small market walkouts and strikes, have grown in size and violence, with the Iranian authorities responding with a severe crackdown. The movement is being led by business owners, retail and factory workers, who are being joined by university students and everyday Iranians. The protests are being fueled by economic grievances, including a historic low for the Iranian rial and high levels of unemployment.
The Emergence of the Protests
The first signs of the protests emerged on December 27 and 28, 2025, with sugar and petrol refinery workers and gold miners staging small protests outside Tehran. The movement reached the capital, Tehran, on December 29, with workers at mobile phone stores at the Alaeddin market walking out in an organized strike. The strike quickly spread to other markets, including the Grand Bazaar of Tehran, with gold markets, money exchanges, and menswear shops closing their doors. An AI-generated flyer circulating on local Telegram channels called for a national strike to be held on December 29, 2025.
The Spread of the Protests
As the protests gained momentum, merchants in Shiraz in southern Iran and at Hamedan in the west also called for city-wide strikes. The Iranian rial dropped to a historic low of 144,000 tomans per US Dollar on December 29. Videos from Qeshm, the largest island in the Persian Gulf, showed workers from the Dargahan old bazaar marching and setting fires on the streets. By the third day of the protests, more workers from Tehran’s Grand Bazaar joined, including women from Hammam-Chal Alley, a section of the bazaar. University students from multiple schools also joined the movement, with five people arrested in the early stages of the student marches.
The Government’s Response
The Iranian authorities have responded to the protests with a severe crackdown, with riot police using tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported altercations between riot police and protesters as early as day two of the strikes. By day 11, the protests had reportedly reached 111 cities and all 31 of Iran’s provinces, with over 40 people, including at least five children, reported killed. The reported total number of deaths since the protests started has since grown to over 500 people, although this figure has not been independently verified.
The Challenges of Getting Information
Getting clear and verified information from inside Iran remains difficult due to the heightened repression and the ongoing internet shutdown. The government has restricted access to basic forms of communication, making it challenging for journalists and human rights organizations to gather information. The lack of access to information has made it difficult to verify the number of deaths and injuries, with HRANA estimating 250 bodies visible in videos released near the Behesht Zahra Cemetery. It is likely that continued images of the protests may become scarce, and the repression may be more violent.
The Economic Grievances
The protests are being fueled by economic grievances, including a historic low for the Iranian rial and high levels of unemployment. The Iranian economy has been struggling in recent years, with the country facing high levels of inflation and a decline in living standards. The protests are a reflection of the growing discontent among Iranians, who are calling for economic reforms and an end to corruption. The movement is being led by business owners, retail and factory workers, who are being joined by university students and everyday Iranians. The protests are a sign of the deep-seated economic and social problems facing Iran, and the government’s response will be crucial in determining the future of the country.