Tehran remains tense as widespread demonstrations against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, now nearing a week old, have escalated into violence with the arrival of the new year, resulting in multiple deaths among protesters and security personnel.
International news agency Reuters, citing Iranian media and rights groups, reported fatalities including protesters and at least one security forces member. The international news agency Associated Press noted that the unrest has extended to rural areas, marking the first reported casualties since the protests began.
The demonstrations, the largest in Iran in three years, stem from skyrocketing inflation and dissatisfaction with the government’s management of a sharp currency devaluation and surging prices. Shopkeepers initiated the actions, leading to the closure of major bazaars, while university students in Tehran chanted “Death to the dictator” and voiced support for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the ousted Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Echoes of “Long live the Shah” were heard in parts of Tehran. Reza Pahlavi, residing in the United States, posted on X: “I am with you. Victory is ours because our cause is just and because we are united.” He further stated, “As long as this regime remains in power, the country’s economic situation will continue to deteriorate.”
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Clashes have spread, with deaths confirmed in Lordegan, Kuhdasht, and Isfahan province. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated Fars news agency reported two fatalities in Lordegan from confrontations involving security services and armed protesters. Rights group Hengaw described several killed and injured in the same city by security forces.
In Kuhdasht, the Revolutionary Guards reported a Basij volunteer paramilitary member killed and 13 others wounded, attributing the violence to demonstrators “taking advantage of the atmosphere of popular protests.” Hengaw identified the deceased as Amirhossam Khodayari Fard, claiming he was protesting and shot by security forces. Hengaw also reported a protester killed in Isfahan province. Reuters noted these accounts could not be immediately verified.
Additional protests occurred in Marvdasht in southern Fars province, according to activist news site HRANA, with detentions reported by Hengaw in Kermanshah, Khuzestan, and Hamedan provinces.
The unrest unfolds against a backdrop of severe economic strain from Western sanctions, with inflation hitting 42.5% in December and the rial losing half its value against the dollar in 2025. Recent Israeli and US airstrikes in June added pressure on Iran’s nuclear facilities and military.
Authorities have adopted a mixed response, with government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani announcing plans for direct talks with trade union and merchant representatives. Meanwhile, a holiday was declared citing cold weather, effectively halting much activity across the country.
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