Nationwide anti-government protests in Iran have continued into a third week, with reports indicating at least 544 deaths and over 10,600 arrests since demonstrations erupted on December 28, 2025.
The unrest initially sparked by soaring inflation, currency collapse, and economic hardship has transformed into broad calls for regime change, spreading across all 31 provinces and hundreds of cities.
US-based rights group Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports 490 protesters and 48 security personnel among the dead, including children, as authorities impose a prolonged internet blackout to curb information flow.
Regime Blames Foreign Interference, Threatens Retaliation
Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and IRGC commanders, have framed the protests as externally orchestrated “terrorism” linked to the United States and Israel, describing them as an extension of prior conflicts rather than legitimate dissent.
President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged economic grievances but vowed not to allow “rioters” to destabilize the country. Tehran has warned of strikes against US bases in the region if Washington intervenes,
following US President Donald Trump’s threats of military action to support demonstrators.
State media announced three days of mourning for fallen security forces, while pro-government rallies have been organized in several cities to counter opposition momentum.
Crackdown Intensifies as Protests Persist
Despite heavy security presence, including Basij and IRGC forces, demonstrations persist in Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, and other urban centers, with protesters chanting against clerical rule and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The regime has shifted rhetoric from “rioters” to “terrorists” to justify lethal force and deter potential defections among security ranks.
International observers express alarm over the violence, drawing parallels to past waves like the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests, though this round appears more widespread and economically driven.
With communications restricted, exact casualty figures remain hard to verify independently, but the crisis marks one of the gravest challenges to Iran’s leadership in decades.