Widespread anti-government protests have been reported across Iran since December 28, initially stemming from economic dissatisfaction and currency devaluation. The demonstrations have expanded to numerous cities and provinces, with reports of both peaceful gatherings and confrontations with security forces. Authorities have issued warnings and increased the use of force, while human rights groups report fatalities and arrests amidst challenges in verifying information.
Scope and Causes of Protests
Protests have been observed in at least 17 of Iran's 31 provinces, with reports suggesting demonstrations in an additional 11 provinces, encompassing over 50 towns and cities. The rapid expansion of these demonstrations began on December 28, following a sharp devaluation of the Iranian currency against major foreign currencies in the capital, Tehran.
The protests are primarily motivated by public dissatisfaction with the government's economic management, which has been impacted by international sanctions, and allegations of widespread corruption. Notably, demonstrations have occurred in locations historically considered supportive of the Islamic Republic, such as Qom and Mashhad.
Government Response and Official Statements
Iranian authorities have historically used force in response to unrest. While the initial response to the current protests appeared restrained, verified footage indicates an increased use of force since a Saturday coinciding with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's public statement that "rioters must be put in their place."
Khamenei later addressed the nation, referring to demonstrators as “saboteurs” and stating there would be no retreat from the government's position.
Iran's judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, stated that authorities would "listen to protesters and critics who legitimately and rightly have concerns about their livelihood and social and economic welfare," but also vowed to "deal firmly with those who seek to exploit the situation, incite riots, and undermine the security of the country and the people."
The Secretariat of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council subsequently warned that security forces and the judiciary would show “no leniency toward saboteurs.” The national police force and the Revolutionary Guards’ intelligence arm described the protests as a “joint design” by Israel and the United States aimed at undermining Iran’s security, vowing retaliation. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has issued warnings against street gatherings in Lorestan province.
Reported Fatalities and Incidents
BBC Persian has confirmed the identities of at least 11 individuals reported deceased since December 28 through verified funeral videos and interviews with family members. The foreign-based human rights organization HRANA has reported a total of 35 fatalities during the unrest, including two individuals associated with security forces. A Norway-based monitoring group, Iran Human Rights, reported at least 45 protesters killed and over 2,000 arrests between December 28 and January 8, noting that these figures were expected to increase.
Specific incidents of confrontation include:
- Malekshahi, Ilam province: On a Saturday, a demonstration on Commandery Boulevard, an area containing state institutions, was followed by apparent gunfire. Human rights groups reported four fatalities, while semi-official Mehr and Tasnim news agencies reported three. Footage showed individuals being transported to a hospital.
- Ilam city: Later on the same Saturday, multiple verified videos depicted security forces firing shots towards Imam Khomeini Hospital. Iran's president has initiated an investigation into this event.
- Azna: BBC Persian has identified at least three demonstrators killed in Azna through funeral footage verification and family interviews.
- An unverified video circulated online, reportedly from Fardis near Karaj, appeared to show at least seven bodies in an underground parking area, with the narrator claiming the individuals were killed by live fire.
Clashes and Anti-State Sentiment
While most recorded instances of violence involved security forces, some clips have shown demonstrators engaging government forces. In Qom, a video showed officers on motorbikes being struck with rocks. Another clip depicted a security officer on a motorbike being set ablaze by a demonstrator after security forces had reportedly detained and assaulted a protester. In Azna, demonstrators reportedly started a fire outside a police station after security forces had earlier fired upon protesters.
More recently, the protests have acquired an anti-state character. Protesters in various locations have chanted slogans against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the clerical establishment. Verified videos have also shown chants supporting Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the former Shah of Iran.
On December 30, at the University of Tehran, some protesters chanted "death to the dictator." In Iranshahr, Sistan and Baluchestan province, protesters set fire to a statue depicting Khamenei and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Government Control of Narrative
Iranian authorities have reportedly attempted to portray deceased protesters as government supporters or victims of protester violence, a pattern observed in previous periods of unrest. In one instance, Amir-Hessam Khodayari, 22, who died after being wounded by security forces, was identified by the Revolutionary Guards and state media as a Basij member (pro-government militia).
However, Khodayari's family contradicted this claim, with his father publicly stating his son was a protester. Family members and activists reported facing pressure, including threats to withhold his body and offers of financial compensation, to accept the official narrative.
Another case involved Shayan Asadollahi, 28, killed in Azna. Authorities reportedly withheld his body for five days, pressuring his family to state he was a Basij member or died in a traffic accident. He was subsequently buried in a remote village. Verification of casualty and arrest figures has become challenging due to reduced access to images and firsthand accounts from within Iran. Further accounts are anticipated to emerge if full internet access is restored.
Expert Commentary
Professor Sina Azodi, Director of the Middle East Studies Program at George Washington University, stated that unrest in historically supportive cities indicates the government's "base of support is also suffering under the economic hardship."
He also observed that "Security forces are loyal – there are no defections at this point and law enforcement forces are carrying out the orders," and that "while the protests are widespread we are not seeing a clear strategy [or] attempt by the protesters to bring down the Islamic Republic."
Peyman Jafari, an assistant professor of international relations at the College of William and Mary, suggested that "escalating repression is likely to deepen popular resentment toward the political system while risking fatigue and demoralisation within the police and security forces."
Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, commented that "While the catalysts differ… the problems remain the same: systemic mismanagement, corruption, and repression," and that "the countless anti-regime chants make clear that many Iranians are calling for the ouster of the Islamic Republic."
Despite the scale of the demonstrations, most experts consulted by the BBC do not currently view them as an existential threat to the state.