Iran is witnessing its largest wave of public unrest since the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests, as a severe economic crisis has paralysed university campuses, shuttered shops, and blocked streets nationwide.
Economic Despair Fuels Widespread Anger
The trigger for the current upheaval was a dramatic plunge in the value of the national currency. On Sunday, the Iranian rial dropped to a historic low of 1.42 million to the US dollar, representing a staggering devaluation of more than 56% in just six months. This collapse has sent food prices soaring, with average costs now 72% higher than this time last year.
For citizens like Alborz, a textile merchant in Isfahan, this was the final straw. Speaking under a pseudonym, the father of four told how he closed his shop and joined the demonstrations. "What will my children eat? Do we have to bring suitcases of cash to simply buy bread?" he asked, highlighting the desperation felt by many.
From Economic Grievance to Political Revolt
While the protests began as a response to deteriorating living conditions, they have rapidly evolved. Chants now directly criticise the country's leadership, with slogans like "Death to the dictator" and "Woman, life, freedom" echoing from crowds. These are the same cries that defined the 2022 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
Social media has been flooded with videos showing demonstrators confronting security forces, throwing stones, and blocking roads. In one clip from Tehran, a lone protester sits defiantly in the path of security service motorcycles as others flee tear gas.
The government, still reeling from a 12-day war with Israel in June, has called for dialogue. President Masoud Pezeshkian instructed officials to listen to "legitimate demands." However, protesters remain deeply sceptical. Farhad, a 19-year-old student activist, dismissed the offer, stating, "If the administration wanted to talk, they wouldn't fire teargas, shoot at protesters... we want the mullahs gone and we want democracy."
Internal Crackdown and External Threats
Authorities have responded with force. Protesters report security services confiscating student IDs, making arrests, and using violence. One demonstrator in Tehran shared an image of a metal pellet they claimed was fired by security forces, though this could not be independently verified.
Internationally, the situation remains tense. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) warned it would confront any "sedition" or security threats, blaming foreign "cognitive warfare." Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump suggested he would "knock... down" any renewed nuclear activity in Iran, a claim Tehran has repeatedly denied, insisting its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Despite the intimidation, protesters vow to continue. Alborz declared that merchants would not reopen their shops until the regime weakens further, and expectations are growing that trade unions may soon join the strikes. The movement, born from economic despair, has now squarely set its sights on political change.
