Iranian security forces have violently clashed with demonstrators staging a sit-in at Tehran's historic Grand Bazaar, firing tear gas to expel protesters. The incident on Tuesday marks the tenth consecutive day of nationwide unrest, with the movement showing no signs of abating.
Nationwide Unrest and Escalating Crackdown
Protests, which initially erupted over a dire economic situation and soaring prices, have now spread to at least 257 locations across 88 Iranian cities. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRNA), the clashes have resulted in the deaths of at least 35 people and led to the arrest of more than 1,200 individuals.
Rights groups have accused authorities of a severe crackdown. In a particularly alarming incident, video evidence from Illam province, south-west of Tehran, showed security forces in full riot gear raiding a hospital reportedly in search of injured demonstrators.
Economic Despair Fuels the Protests
The protests are rooted in a profound economic crisis. The Iranian rial has plummeted to a historic low of 1.46 million to the US dollar, losing about two-thirds of its value in just three years. This collapse has devastated purchasing power and triggered widespread shortages.
Iran's President, Masoud Pezeshkian, addressed the nation on Tuesday, claiming the government's hands were largely tied. He blamed international sanctions, stating "oil is under embargo and sources of income are limited." Pezeshkian warned that government intervention could worsen spiralling inflation and announced an end to a preferential dollar exchange rate for businesses—a move expected to cause further price hikes.
The state news agency reported that the average price of a bottle of cooking oil had recently doubled, with traders hoarding goods in anticipation of even higher inflation.
International Reaction and Government Posture
The Iranian government appears to be walking a fine line. While the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, acknowledged some protester demands as legitimate last Saturday, he also called for rioters to be "put in their place." Simultaneously, security forces have continued arrests and, as seen in the bazaar and hospital, used force.
The hospital raid in Illam drew sharp international condemnation. The US State Department, via its Farsi-language X account, stated that "beating medical staff and attacking the wounded with teargas and ammunition is a clear crime against humanity."
Former US President Donald Trump has also threatened intervention if protesters are killed, a comment met with angry warnings from Iranian officials. The state-aligned Fars news agency claimed 250 police officers and 45 members of the Basij paramilitary force were injured during the demonstrations.
As the economic pressure mounts and the protest movement persists, the situation in Iran remains volatile, with the symbolic heart of Tehran's commerce becoming the latest flashpoint.
