Escalating Unrest: Iran's Protests Amid Economic Crisis

Fri Jan 09 2026 06:45:34 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As protests spread across Iran, intense clashes between anti-government demonstrators and security forces have resulted in fatalities and significant unrest, driven by economic despair.

Protests in Iran have intensified into violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces, with 111 cities affected as the populace rallies against economic hardship and government actions. At least 34 protesters and several security personnel have been reported dead amid ongoing unrest sparked by inflation and currency devaluation.

There were violent clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces in several locations in Iran on Wednesday, as a wave of unrest sparked by the country's economic crisis continued for an 11th day.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, said two policemen were shot and killed by armed individuals in the south-western town of Lordegan.

Videos posted on social media showed a tense stand-off between protesters and security forces, with the sound of gunfire in the background.

In footage from several other areas, security forces appear to fire guns and tear gas towards crowds of protesters, some of whom are throwing stones.

The protests have so far spread to 111 cities and towns across all 31 provinces, according to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA).

It has reported that at least 34 protesters and four security personnel have been killed during the unrest, and that 2,200 protesters have been arrested.

BBC Persian has confirmed the deaths and identities of 21 people, while Iranian authorities have reported the deaths of five security personnel.

The protests began on 28 December, when shopkeepers took to the streets of the capital, Tehran, to express their anger at another sharp fall in the value of the Iranian currency, the rial, against the US dollar on the open market.

The rial has sunk to a record low over the past year and inflation has soared to 40% as sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme squeeze an economy also weakened by government mismanagement and corruption.

University students soon joined the protests, spreading them to other cities, where crowds frequently chant slogans against the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

On Wednesday, videos verified by BBC Persian showed crowds protesting in Qazvin, chanting slogans including 'Death to the dictator' and 'Long live the shah'. Filming from the holy city of Mashhad and other locations revealed violent clashes with security forces.

Vice-President for Executive Affairs Mohammad Jafar Qaempanah stated President Masoud Pezeshkian had ordered 'no security measures' against peaceful protesters, distinguishing them from 'rioters' who would face punishment.

Amidst this unrest, Dr. Sanam Vakil from Chatham House highlighted the deep-seated public anger, noting that the protests mark the most extensive outbreak of dissent since the 2022 Amini protests, where over 550 people were killed by security forces during a violent crackdown.