Intensifying Unrest in Iran: Protesters Attempt to Breach Government Building

Thu Jan 01 2026 05:13:16 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Protests in Iran escalate as demonstrators make efforts to enter a government building amidst growing unrest triggered by economic turmoil.

Amid ongoing unrest sparked by a currency collapse, protesters in Iran have attempted to break into a government building in Fasa, with reports of injuries and arrests. The situation has unfolded across multiple cities, leading authorities to declare a bank holiday in an effort to mitigate tensions. The protests, initially focused on economic grievances, have seen increasing participation from university students, signaling broadening discontent with the regime.

Protesters in Iran have tried to break into a local government building in the southern province of Fars, on a fourth day of demonstrations sparked by a currency collapse.

Officials reported that three police officers were injured and four individuals arrested in the city of Fasa.

Confrontations have also arisen in the western provinces of Hamedan and Lorestan.

The authorities in Tehran declared Wednesday a bank holiday in an apparent attempt to quell the unrest.

Footage shared on social media showed demonstrators breaking the governor's office gate in Fasa, while another video depicted security forces responding with gunfire and tear gas amidst a backdrop of shuttered shops.

As a precaution, schools, universities, and public institutions were closed throughout the country due to the last-minute public holiday, justified by the government as a measure to save energy amid cold weather, though many viewed it as a tactic to contain protests.

The protests began in Tehran on Sunday, sparked by shopkeepers' anger over a significant fall in the Iranian currency value against the US dollar.

By Tuesday, the protests had attracted university students and spread to several cities, with demonstrators vocalizing their disdain against the clerical rulers of Iran.

These protests have emerged as the most extensive since the 2022 uprising, ignited by Mahsa Amini's death while in police custody over hijab regulations, though their scale remains smaller.

To prevent further escalation, enhanced security measures are now present in Tehran, where the demonstrations began.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that the government is willing to address the legitimate demands of protesters; however, prosecutor general Mohammad Movahedi-Azad warned against any attempts to instigate instability, vowing a decisive response.