Iranian protests 2025-2026

➡️ DEADLY ANTI-REGIME PROTESTS IN IRAN 2025/26 - Under a Strangled Economy, Iranians Have Had Enough

Nationwide unrest erupted in Iran on December 28, 2025. Although the demonstrations have since eased, widespread discontent with the Islamic Republic government, its mishandling of the ongoing economic crisis, and its brutal stronghold on the country have continued to worsen.

These protests amount to the largest uprising since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Demonstrations have taken place in all 31 provinces across 186 cities. The Iranian government responded with deadly force, killing more than 6,000, injuring thousands more, and arresting more than 24,000. Instilling fear in Iranian civilians, many have now chosen to stay at home as the country reels from a 20-day government-enforced internet blackout.

The latest protests began after shopkeepers and merchants in Tehran closed their shops following the Rial's plummet to an all-time low. Soaring prices, the collapse of the currency, and economic growth of just 0.6% has made business and life in the country near impossible.

The situation escalated after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to take military action. For years, Iran has struggled under brutal repression, critical water shortages, power outages, unchecked air pollution, chronic corruption, and economic mismanagement.

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Explore our comprehensive guides on -

• Iran & Past Conflicts

• Protests in 2022, 2019, 2017, 2011, and 2009

• Israeli Attacks on Iran

• The Iranian Nuclear Programme & the Nuclear Deal

• U.S. & UN Sanctions

• Women's Rights (Or Lack Of) in Iran

• The Death Penalty

• Human Rights in Iran

• The Political Situation in Iran

• Information for Protesters in Iran

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Iran's Economic Meltdown

Iran is suffering its deepest and most prolonged economic crisis in modern times. In the last 8 years, the Iranian currency has fallen by 90%. In December 2025, one U.S. dollar was priced at 1.36 million Rial. Food prices have risen by 72% compared to the previous year. This dire situation is not new; it is a consequence of years of inaction, and the Iranian people are angry.

How can people survive if a tray of eggs is £9 and five kilos of cooking oil is £25?

Iran's economy is unrecognisable as war and sanctions have brought the country to a standstill. Iran is now one of the most heavily sanctioned countries in the world.

Timeline of significant sanctions on Iran:

• 1979 – The first U.S. imposed sanctions after the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Iranian imports are banned, and $12 billion in assets are frozen.

• 1995 - President Bill Clinton prevents U.S. companies from investing in Iranian oil and gas, and from engaging in all forms of trade. In 1996, Congress passed a law requiring sanctions on foreign firms investing more than $20m a year in Iran's oil and gas sector. European protests postponed its implementation until 2010.

• 2006 - The United Nations imposes sanctions on Iran's trade in nuclear energy-related goods. Individuals and companies with connections to it have their assets frozen. Over the following years, the U.S., the EU, and the UN continue to expand and tighten their sanctions.

• 2015 - The U.S., the UK, China, France, Germany, Russia, and Iran sign the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The agreement entails Iran curbing its nuclear program in exchange for a significant easing of sanctions.

• 2018 – President Trump withdraws the U.S. from the nuclear treaty and reimposes all sanctions on Iran.

• 2019 - Trump imposes new sanctions targeting petrochemicals and metals, as well as 12 Iranian officials.

• 2020 - The U.S. assassinates Qassem Soleimani and imposes more sanctions on Iran.

• 2025 – The U.S. launches strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in a 12-day war. UN sanctions were reimposed over Iran's nuclear programme.

• 2026 – Almost all of Iran's oil revenue and overseas assets remain frozen.

When the Rial reached a new record low in December 2025, and at the height of the protests, the head of Iran's Central Bank resigned. He had been critical of the government's handling of the economic situation.

President Masoud Pezeshikian has appointed Abdolnasser Hemmati as the new bank governor. Hemmati previously held this position from 2018 to 2021. This is a questionable move, as during his brief stint as the country's Economy Minister, he was impeached in a no-confidence vote. The reason, for failing to tackle inflation and improve the value of the Rial, the very job expected of the Central Bank.

Deadly Crackdown by Authorities

On the recent protests, Ali Hosseini Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, said, "rioters must be put in their place." This gave the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) the green light to put an end to the protests by any means necessary.

Most international news organisations are barred from reporting inside Iran, but accounts from people who attended the protests reveal that protesters were shot at with live rounds indiscriminately. They even targeted those running away and even onlookers who were not involved. An alarming detail is that the IRGC specifically aimed at the protesters' faces and eyes.

In an attempt to crush dissent, shotguns, assault rifles, and handguns were used on the largely peaceful protests. Many of those injured did not seek medical attention for fear of being detained. The authorities have been refusing to hand over bodies to their families. Iranian security forces have a history of confiscating their victims' bodies and even forcing families to pay for the bullets used.

Donald Trump has threatened military action if the attacks on protesters continue, but has so far failed to intervene. Iran responded that it is open to negotiations. A few days later, however, Trump announced a 25% tariff on Iran's trade partners.

Iran is a theocratic republic which gives ultimate authority to their supreme religious leader. Exerting massive control over the country, the supreme leader also serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, sets general policy, controls the state media, appoints heads of the justice system, and leads key religious foundations. They hold a lifetime tenure.

The state is built on Shia Islamism, and the current regime has consolidated a mass of power. It is defended by a series of paramilitary forces, government-controlled courts, and death sentences against political dissidents.

The morality police enforce compulsory hijab laws, women's rights have been stripped back, the persecution of minorities, such as the Kurds, Baluchis, and Arabs, is commonplace, the internet is censored and restricted, social media platforms are blocked, and schools are strictly controlled by the state to promote ideological indoctrination.

"The violent repression of the Iranian people does not solve any of the country's problems. On the contrary, it creates conditions for further human rights violations, instability and bloodshed." - Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Is a Peaceful, Prosperous Iran Possible?

The widespread demonstrations in Iran, although started as an economic protest, are part of much broader political issues and anti-government sentiment. Protests saw university students marching alongside shopkeepers and merchants.

Iran now faces an unknown future.

International protests have now spread around the world as people unite and speakup for the people in Iran and the desperate need for reason, justice, and peace.

Iran is suffering from severe water scarcity, forcing internal migration and devastating rural communities. Decades of sanctions have left Iran crippled and isolated from the international community. Despite its wealth in oil and gas, due to failing infrastructure, civilians endure frequent energy shortages, leaving homes without heating in the winter months.

Change will come, but in what direction we can not be sure. Weak attempts at diplomacy have failed. The U.S. and Iran are both stubbornly uncompromising and looking to military action as a first option.

Iranian people dream of freedom and democracy whilst endlessly criticising the regime's authoritarian rule, even under the threat of death. The global community must step up to support the Iranian people and help them reclaim their future. Endless sanctions are not working and continue to punish innocent civilians.

Regime change in Iran would shake up the entire Middle East. Diplomacy would begin to stand a chance, Iranian influence would wane, conflicts would stabilise, and regional cooperation might even become the norm.

We must work to eliminate the nuclear threat in Iran and in all nuclear states.

"In the face of oppression, the courage to speak out becomes the beacon of hope." – Nasrin Sotoudeh, Iranian lawyer and human rights activist

Author: Rachael Mellor, 29.01.25 licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

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