Beginning on 28 December 2025, mass demonstrations erupted across multiple cities in Iran amid a deepening economic crisis and widespread dissatisfaction with the government. While initially sparked by frustration over skyrocketing inflation, rising food prices, and the severe depreciation of the Iranian rial, the protests quickly evolved into a broader movement demanding an end to the Islamic Republic's rule. Beginning with shopkeepers and bazaar merchants in Tehran, the demonstrations soon spread to universities, drawing in large numbers of students from across the country. Demonstrators voiced anti-government slogans such as "Death to the Dictator", "Pahlavi will return", and "Long live the Shah", signalling their grievances to those in power responsible for the economic crisis as well as broader political demands. The movement quickly became the largest outbreak of unrest in Iran since the 2022–2023 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. The wave of protests was catalysed by the rapidly worsening economic situation: year-on-year inflation in Iran had surged to 48.6% in October 2025 and 42.2% in December 2025, severely impacting household budgets. By 29 December 2025, the Iranian rial had fallen to a record low of 1.45 million to the US dollar. Prices of food and essential goods rose sharply, leaving many Iranians struggling to afford basic necessities. The currency crisis, which had been developing over several years, was exacerbated in 2025 by the Twelve-Day War with Israel and renewed UN nuclear-related sanctions imposed through the snapback mechanism. Initially concentrated in Tehran's commercial districts, the protests spread to major cities such as Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad. In Tehran, protests centred around the Grand Bazaar, where merchants staged strikes demanding government intervention, while footage shared on social media showed security forces using tear gas to disperse demonstrators. As the demonstrations grew in size, protesters in multiple cities chanted for both economic relief and political change, including calls for "freedom" and explicit opposition to the government. == Background == === Economic crisis in Iran === Beginning in 2024, Iran's economy saw sharp rates of inflation, devalued currency, and an energy deficit, culminating in repeated electricity and gas disruptions, and apologies from Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian. Iran had also suffered from major declines in global influence such as with the fall of the Assad regime, a major ally. In the final months of 2025, Iran's economy experienced an unprecedented surge in exchange rates, a sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial with the U.S. dollar reaching approximately 145,000 tomans. Additionally, the country's state statistics center reported an inflation rate of 42.2% in December 2025, an increase of 1.8% compared to November. Food prices rose by 72%, while health and medical goods increased by 50% year-on-year. Iran is also experiencing a mismanaged water crisis. Reports in Iranian media also indicated that the government planned to raise taxes with the start of the Iranian new year on 21 March, fuelling further concern among citizens. Some protest messaging linked economic hardship to criticism of the government's foreign policy priorities; during the December 2025 demonstrations, some participants chanted "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, My Life for Iran". Discontent in Iran has also been alleged to have been due to political corruption, with protesters accusing the Iranian government of authoritarianism and prioritising proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas over domestic needs. Economic analysts cited government monetary and fiscal policies, economic mismanagement, chronic budget deficits, and the continuation of international sanctions as key contributing factors. These conditions directly affected trade guilds, particularly businesses dependent on imports. Severe exchange-rate volatility left many merchants unable to price goods, secure supplies, or continue economic activity. Economic uncertainty grew in Iran throughout 2025. In June 2025, Iran was involved in an armed conflict with Israel, during which Iran's nuclear programme was targeted, and its nuclear facilities were also struck by the United States. In September 2025, the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran through the "snapback" mechanism, freezing Iranian assets abroad, halting arms transactions, and imposing penalties related to the country's ballistic missile programme. Many Iranians fear a broader confrontation involving the United States, which contributed to market instability. According to The Guardian, the economic crisis was the catalyst for the protests, however they had expanded as an expression of grievances with government corruption. It further reported of voices calling for the overthrow of the government, and distrust in the government's calls for dialogue, seeing them as self-serving and deceptive. NPR reported that months before the protests, public anger and frustration had been mounting due to severe energy shortages, civil rights abuses and widespread corruption, and that the protests sparked concerns that they would deteriorate into something much more serious. According to the Atlantic, the political character of the protests was manifested by protesters chanting "Death to the dictator" in reference to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and their loss of faith in Pezeshkian, who was elected in 2024 on the platform and promises of good governance, but had overseen water and electricity cuts, while failing to deliver on the promise of lifting internet censorship. Pezeshkian also promised to meet with protest representatives, and recognised "the constitutional right of peaceful protest", although he lacks control over Iranian security forces. By 1 January 2026, dozens of protesters had been arrested and there were several documented cases of security forces firing live ammunition at protesters, including students, pensioners, and members of Gen Z. Students at Shahid Beheshti University released a statement declaring that "This criminal system has taken our future hostage for 47 years. It won't be changed with reform or with false promises". === Comparison to previous protests === The protests were described as Iran's largest since 2022, when nationwide demonstrations erupted following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. On 30 December, Ellie Borhan, a British-Iranian activist, viewed this wave of protests as stronger than previous ones. Iranian public faith in their government faded since the 2022 crackdown on the Woman, Life, Freedom movement during the Mahsa Amini protests. Protests were previously held in May 2025 by truck drivers beginning in Bandar Abbas, who blocked roads and ports in Iran due to discontent over low salaries, high insurance rates, and possible hikes in fuel prices in the future. Market traders were influential during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, helping to mobilise public support that ultimately led to the overthrow of the monarchy. The demonstrations were notable in the context of a large-scale government crackdown on dissidents, including arrests of prominent opponents and the highest number of executions in nearly 40 years. Executions in Iran have reportedly doubled in 2025 compared to 2024; the execution trends were on the rise since 2022, with activists alleging that the Islamic Republic aims to use executions to instil fear in their population and therefore suppress internal opposition. == Timeline == === 28 December 2025 === On 28 December, groups of shopkeepers and merchants at Alaeddin Shopping Centre in Tehran and other commercial centres, including Charsou Mall, went on strike by closing their shops. Simultaneously, protest gatherings formed around these locations, and images and videos of widespread shop closures circulated on social media. According to reports, protesters cited the rising dollar exchange rate and market instability, warning that continued conditions would lead to the bankruptcy of many small and medium-sized businesses. Some gatherings extended into surrounding streets, including Jomhuri Street. Other people had joined in with the shopkeepers to protest against economic conditions at Jomhuri Street. Elsewhere, iron traders at Iran closed their shops in similar protests of the devalued currency. Around the time that the protests began, the value of the Iranian rial sunk to a record low of 1.45 million per US dollar before slightly recovering to 1.38 million. The rial had lost approximately 40 percent of its value since the Iran–Israel war, in part due to the sinking of oil revenue from US sanctions. The year on year inflation rate was up at 42.2 percent. The protests were first started by shopkeepers who sold electronic goods in central Tehran who shut down their stores. State media revealed blurred footage of initially smaller-scale protests from merchants. Videos and eyewitness accounts showed groups of merchants chanting slogans against economic mismanagement and, in some cases, expressing anti-government sentiments. Protesters also chanted "Law Enforcement, support, support," calling on security forces to back the protests. The protesters' main demands included stabilising exchange rates, addressing merchants' economic hardships, creating a predictable business environment, and preventing losses caused by market volatility. There were no reported clashes with security forces on this day and it remained peaceful. === 29 December === The protests continued into their second day on 29 December and expanded across various parts of Tehran, including the Grand Bazaar. Merchants and shopkeepers closed their businesses and gathered in the streets to protest the unprecedented collapse of the rial and sharp increases in currency and gold prices. Protesters voiced opposition to economic conditions and government management, citing declining purchasing power and rising living costs. Videos shared online showed continued gatherings around Lalehzar, Chaharsouq, and Jomhuri Street, with participants largely non-violent while conveying critical messages toward government economic policies. The merchants at the Grand Bazaar in Tehran joined the electronic goods shopkeepers who had started the protests the previous day. Footage verified by independent sources showed crowds at malls near Tehran's Grand Bazaar chanting "freedom" (Persian: آزادی, romanised: Âzâdi). Law enforcement forces used tear gas to disperse demonstrators outside the Alaeddin Shopping Centre. Protests also spread to other cities in Iran. On the night of 29 December 2025, protests were reported in several regions across Iran, including Qeshm in the south, and Zanjan and Hamadan in the north. Demonstrators chanted slogans critical of the supreme leader, including "Death to the Dictator" on Qeshm Island and "Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] will be toppled this year" in Zanjan. There were also chants in support of the monarchy, such as "Pahlavi will return." Iran International reported a video of one protester sitting in the middle of the Jomhuri Eslami Street at Tehran and refusing to move for motorbike security forces, later being beaten and forced to leave. The video went viral online, with multiple news outlets comparing the protester and event to Tank Man during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre. === 30 December === By the third day of protests, strikes and security measures had expanded, with shops closing in parts of Tehran such as Shoush and Molavi, as well as in Isfahan's Naqsh-e Jahan Square. Heavy security deployments were reported in Tehran, Mashhad, and at Khajeh Nasir University. Government responses included ordering temporary closures in 11 provinces, including Tehran province, due to cold weather and energy constraints. Security forces fired on protesters in Hamadan and deployed tear gas in Tehran and Malard. Demonstrations spread to additional cities, including Kermanshah, Shiraz, Yazd, and parts of Tehran such as Shadabad and Shush. Students from universities including Amirkabir, Beheshti, Khajeh Nasir, Sharif, Science and Culture and Tehran Science and Technology as well as Isfahan University of Technology and Yazd University joined rallies, chanting slogans such as "Death to the dictator", "death to Khamenei", "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, My Life for Iran", "We are all together", and "Seyyed Ali (Khamenei) will be toppled this year." President Masoud Pezeshkian, called on the government to listen to citizens' demands. In response, a government spokesman said a Communication Group would be implemented. However, Pezeshkian's comments do not appear to have appeased the protesters, whose demands go beyond just economic stability. Furthermore, some Iranians have expressed scepticism in the government's ability to solving the economic problems, citing previous government statements that they are unable to much about solving the economic problems. Human rights organisations and Gen Z student groups reported that 11 protesters were arrested in the Shoush Square area in Tehran and that 5 students were detained and 4 were later released. Another news report published that one student was severely injured at Tehran’s Amirkabir University during a crackdown on a campus gathering by members of the Basij militia of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Videos on social media appeared to show students chanting slogans critical of the government, removing signs associated with the office of the Supreme Leader's representatives, and confronting security forces at university entrances. === 31 December === The people of Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Fasa gathered on the fourth day of protests. In Fasa, people held a large rally in front of the governor's office, and in Kermanshah, the markets went on a complete strike. According to reports, police fired live ammunition and tear gas, at the protesters. At the same time, in Shirvan, working and retired teachers gathered in front of the Education Department. In Kermanshah, repressive forces have been deployed from Ferdowsi Square to the garage (about 8 kilometers), and the heavy presence of security forces is noticeable. One person named Mahdi Samavati was reported to have been killed outside the governor's office protest in Fasa. The semi-official Mehr News Agency quoted the governor of Fasa as denying this report. Video recordings disseminated online and distributed by the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran depict severe confrontations between demonstrators and security forces in several cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Kermanshah. Protester Amirhesam Khodayarifard was killed by a handgun shot to the head by an Iranian security force member in a protest in Kuhdasht, Lorestan province on 31 December. The state-run IRNA news agency and Mehr confirmed the death and stated that Khodayarifard was a member of the Basij. Government authorities pressured Khodayarifard's family to state that he had been a Basij member and called for online social media silence on the topic. The shooting occurred during clashes with protesters. According to Mehr, 13 police officers and Basij members were injured. The government ordered nationwide total business shutdown in most of the country due to "cold weather", although some analysts say that the real intention is to stifle protests. The shutdown was applied to 21 out of Iran's 31 provinces. The government began threatening to crack down on protesters, and the U.S. State Department stated that they were concerned about protesters "facing intimidation, violence, and arrests." Video footage records protesters like merchants, women’s rights activists, and students commonly shouting the slogans "Death to the dictator" and "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, my life for Iran". In response to the ongoing protests, the Iranian government appointed Abdolnasser Hemmati, a former economics minister, as the new governor of the Central Bank of Iran, following Mohammad Reza Farzin's resignation. === 1 January 2026 === On the fifth day of protests, workers and employees of the central fruit and vegetable market in Tehran stopped working and joined the nationwide uprising by stopping the distribution cycle. Chanting the slogan, "You know with zeal, support support", the protesters called on marketers and the general public to strengthen the national will for change by expanding the strikes. Police officers used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. According to reports, Sarira Karimi, secretary of the faculty council of the Faculty of Law and Political Science and a member of the faculty council of the University of Tehran, who had been arrested on 31 December 2025, was released on 1 January 2026. Protesters were reported to have gathered in Marvdasht and chanted slogans against the Islamic Republic government, such as "This is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali is overthrown". In Mashhad, protesters gathered at Saadi Metro Station, where riot police attempted to disperse the crowd with force. In Lorestan, home to the Lur minority, protesters were reported lighting fires in the streets while chanting, "This is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali is overthrown". Additional reports claim officers used live ammunition against protesters. In Lordegan County, gatherings took place in several parts of Lordegan City, including around the governor's office and the municipality square. According to these reports, as tensions escalated, some individuals attempted to damage government and bank buildings. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds, and clashes were reported between the two sides. Several people were injured during the unrest, and unconfirmed reports suggested that multiple deaths had occurred. At least three people, including a boy, were killed in Lordegan. There was a heavy presence of government forces in Qom. Protesters filled the streets chanting slogans against the government and in favour of Reza Pahlavi. === 2 January === On 2 January, according to credible media reports, protests continued in large numbers in Tehran, Qom, Isfahan, Shiraz, Ilam, Mashhad, Karaj, Zanjan, Hamadan, and Qeshm. In Zahedan and Tehran, protests became active again. Funerals for protesters killed by the security forces were held in Fuladshahr, Kuhdasht, and Marvdasht, during which participants expressed opposition to the government, including chants of "Death to Khamenei". At the Kuhdasht funeral for Khodayarifard, Basij and IRGC forces were chased away from the funeral with stones and chants, and participants chanted "Pahlavi will return". Khodayarifard's father confirmed that his son was not a Basij member. === 3 January === On 3 January, following the statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei responded by saying "We will not yield to the enemy", and adding that the "rioters must be put in their place". On the same day, the US State Department made a statement condemning suppression on protestors' funerals. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported demonstrations in several locations that day, including Kazerun, Malekshahi, Kermanshah, Shiraz, Mashhad, Arkavaz, Isfahan, Tehran, Hafshejan, Karaj, Shahrekord, and Fardis. HRANA reported a cumulative count of 16 fatalities since the beginning of the protests, including one member of government security forces. Cloudflare reported a 35% decrease in internet traffic in Iran, with Iranian internet users reporting frequent outages and slow connections. Nicolás Maduro's capture by US forces on January 3 placed further strains on Iran's economy and its overseas investments. == Methods == === National strikes === Nationwide strikes were conducted by businesses, stores, cafes, and workers as well as by online shops and social media influencers. === Notable slogans and symbols === During the protests, several notable slogans were chanted by demonstrators, reflecting anti-government sentiments, calls for the restoration of the monarchy, and unity among protesters. These slogans were frequently documented in videos and reports by Persian-language media outlets such as Manoto and Iran International. Many drew on historical references to the Pahlavi dynasty, while others directly targeted Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei or the Islamic Republic's leadership. Symbols associated with the protests included the Lion and Sun flag, which was waved in several demonstrations as a sign of monarchist aspirations and opposition to the government. "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, My Life for Iran" (Persian: نه غزه نه لبنان، جانم فدای ایران, romanised: Na Qazze na Lebnan, jânam fadâ-ye Irân) — a chant that expresses the opposition of some Iranians to the Islamic Republic's military, financial, and political support for Palestinian militant groups, neglecting the needs and interests of Iran itself. "Reza Shah, may your soul be blessed" (Persian: رضا شاه، روحت شاد, romanised: Rezâ Shâh, ruhat shâd) — a slogan honouring Reza Shah Pahlavi, founder of the Pahlavi dynasty, chanted in Hamadan, Tehran, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and other locations. "Long live the Shah" (Persian: جاوید شاه, romanised: Jâvid Shâh) — repeated chants calling for the return of the monarchy, heard in Hamadan, Arak, Nahavand, Dehloran, and other cities during nighttime protests. "This is the final battle, Pahlavi will return" (Persian: این آخرین نبرده، پهلوی برمی‌گرده, romanised: In âkharin nabarde, Pahlavi barmigarde) — a phrase conveying determination for regime change and the return of the Pahlavi family, chanted in Arak, Rasht, Khorramabad, Isfahan, Nahavand, and Dorud. "Reza, Reza Pahlavi, this is our national slogan" (Persian: رضا رضا پهلوی، این است شعار ملی, romanised: Rezâ Rezâ Pahlavi, in ast shu'ar-e melli) — proclaimed as a national chant in protests, notably in Farsan County. "Death to Khamenei" (Persian: مرگ بر خامنه‌ای, romanised: Marg bar Khâmene'i) — direct calls against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, heard in Isfahan, Farsan, Arak, and other protest sites. Previously used during the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 protests. "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, we are all together" (Persian: نترسید، نترسید، ما همه با هم هستیم, romanised: Natarsid, natarsid, mâ hame bâ ham hastim) — a chant promoting unity and courage among protesters, chanted during nighttime gatherings in Isfahan. "Dishonourable, dishonourable" (Persian: بی‌شرف، بی‌شرف, romanised: Bi-sharaf, bi-sharaf) — directed at security forces or government officials. "Death to the Dictator" (Persian: مرگ بر دیکتاتور, romanised: Marg bar Diktâtor) — a general anti-authoritarian chant targeting the government's leadership, reported in Tehran, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Malard, Nahavand, Noorabad, and Karaj. "The Shah is coming home, Zahhak is overthrown" (Persian: شاه می‌یاد به خونه، ضحاک سرنگونه, romanised: Shâh mi-yâd be khune, Zahâk sarnegune) — referencing Persian mythology (Zahhak as a tyrant) to symbolise the overthrow of the current government and return of the Shah. == Casualties == === Summary table === === Casualties, arrests, executions, and injured protesters === ==== 31 December ==== On 31 December 2025, during a protest in Fuladshahr, Dariush Ansari Bakhtiariwand was shot with a Kalashnikov rifle by security forces. He died before reaching medical care. While participating in a protest in Kuhdasht on 31 December, Amirhesam Khodayarifard (either 21 or 22 years old) was shot dead with a bullet to the head by an Iranian security force member. Eyewitness testimony and video evidence showed that Khodayarifard was among the protesters. Government media stated that protesters had been throwing rocks at security forces, and that Khodayarafid was killed "after" the rocks had been thrown. Governmental media, including Mehr News Agency, claimed that Khodayarifard was a member of the Basij. The governor of Kuhdasht, an Imam of Friday Prayer, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) members visited Khodayarifard's family. Permission for the family to access Khodayarifard's body and carry out a burial was conditioned on the family making a televised statement stating that Khodayarifard had been a member of the Basij. Governmental authorities gave warnings on Telegram and Instagram forbidding the publication of information about Khodayarifard's killing. At Khodayarifard's funeral on 2 January, Khodayarifard's father confirmed that his son was not a Basij member. ==== 1 January ==== Two protesters, Ahmad Jalil, 21, and Sajjad Valamanesh, 28, were killed in Lordegan on 1 January 2026. Both were shot by security forces with live ammunition and died later from their injuries. On the evening of 1 January, two men and a teenage boy, Shayan Asadollahi, 30, Vahab Musavi, and Mostafa, 15, residents of Azna (in Lorestan province) were killed by gunfire from security forces. The IRGC-aligned Fars News Agency stated that the protesters had either tried to attack a police station or had tried to disarm the security forces. Ahmadreza Amani, 28, was shot in the chest by security forces at around 18:00 IRST in Azna and died in hospital. Khodadad Shirvani, 33, a Marvdasht resident, was shot with shotgun pellets by security forces on the same evening in Marvdasht. He died after being transferred to a hospital. In Nurabad (Lorestan province), Ahad Ebrahimpour Abdoli, 35, was lethally shot the same evening with three bullets (one to his heart) by security forces during a protest in Ba'ath Square in Nurabad. Security forces and the Imam of Friday Prayer pressured Abdoli's family to say that he was a Basij member and that he was shot by "enemy forces". ==== 2 January ==== On 2 January, a 42-year-old protester, Ali Azizi Jafarabadi, a Kurdish man from Harsin County was shot dead by security forces in Harsin. ==== 3 January ==== On 3 January, the total number of arrested protesters had increased to 132 according to Hengaw or 582 according to Human Rights Activists in Iran. Iran International estimated the death count of protesters to be at least eight, the number of locations to be 113 locations in 46 cities across 22 provinces, with at least 44 people shot and wounded by live ammunition or pellet guns fired by Iranian security forces. Four protesters were shot dead with "military-grade" weapons by IRGC members at protests in Malekshahi County in Ilam province; forty were injured and many taken to hospital. ==== 4 January ==== By the early morning of 4 January, Iran International reported the death toll from the protests to have risen to at least 16. === Government forces === Government media claimed that Amirhesam Khodayarifard, killed on 31 December, was a member of the Basij. Eyewitness reports and video evidence, collected by Hengaw, contradicted this claim, in particular showing that he was standing among the protesters and was killed by a shot to the head by a security forces member. Initially, authorities conditioned family access to Khodayarifard's body on the family making a televised statement that he was a Basij member. During the funeral, which took place on 2 January, Khodayarifard's father confirmed that his son was not a Basij member. On 3 January, Al Monitor referred to a statement by Mehr that IRGC member Latif Karimi was killed during clashes in Malekshahi County, during which four protesters were killed by "military-grade" weapons by the IRGC. == Reactions == === Iran === Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, said "We talk to the protesters, but the rioters must be put in their place. President Masoud Pezeshkian stated in a televised broadcast, "We are at total war with Israel, Europe and United States of America", and also that "if we do not resolve the issue of people's livelihoods, we will end up in hell", acknowledging the protests while downplaying another possible attack on Iran. On 31 December 2025, after a government building was attacked in Fasa, authorities placed almost the entire country on leave until 4 January 2026, but refrained from linking it to the protests, stating the reasons were cold weather and energy saving instead. The government paused subsidising the rial to U.S. dollar exchange rate, a method they have long used as a mechanism to support imports and curb inflation. IRGC General Mohammad Ali Jafari warned they will deal a "crushing blow" in case of a second round of attacks by Israel. The IRGC Lorestan provincial barracks Hazrat Abolfazl division news site posted and claimed the protesters were being "given ammunition and handed guns by some trucks without licence plates". Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref tendered his resignation, but it was not accepted by President Pezeshkian. Political Advisor to the President of Iran Mehdi Sanaei resigned. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi called on U.S. President Donald Trump to reopen negotiations in an op-ed for The Guardian. Fars News Agency (affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) described the strike and demonstrations as "riots" on the second day of the protests and warned of individuals allegedly infiltrating the bazaars to turn economic slogans into political ones exceeding the protesters' demands. After the Iranian rial hit a record low, Mohammad Reza Farzin resigned as the leader of the Central Bank of Iran and was replaced with Abdolnaser Hemmati. Fatemeh Mohajerani, the spokesperson of the Iranian Government, stated on social media that the government acknowledges the protests and "we will also hear harsh voices." Prominent jailed Iranian reformist politician Mostafa Tajzadeh criticised the government's handling of the economic crisis that is pushing the country toward "statelessness and chaos." He called for the abolition of theocracy and a "democratic overhaul of the system," urging that religious institutions return to their traditional roles in seminaries and that political authority be restored to the people. Tajzadeh also stressed that "peaceful protest is the inalienable legal right of citizens," condemning any attempts by the government to suppress demonstrations. President Pezeshkian stated that "If the problems aren't solved, we cannot govern," which some have interpreted as an admission of political bankruptcy. Mehdi Taremi, captain of Iran's national football team, wrote in a story, "What solution do the officials have for the people’s problems? They must listen to the people’s voices and respond to the concerns of the noble Iranian nation." He also wrote, "The world has entered 2026 while, unfortunately, the economic situation of the Iranian people is not favourable at all. The more the dollar becomes expensive, the poorer the people become." Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly said "Malicious individuals and organised movements want to turn any kind of public demand and protest into chaos and chaos using their trained agents in the square, but the Iranian nation has repeatedly demonstrated its vigilance, awareness, and compassion for the country's security". Amoli Larijani, Head of the Expediency Discernment Council said "Criticism and demands are the right of the nation, but they must be expressed in a way that is not considered a signal to the enemies". Ali Shamkhani, a member of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, responded to Trump by threatening retaliation, stating, "Any intervening hand that approaches Iran’s security will be cut off with a regret-inducing response." Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, responded to Trump by warning Americans to "watch over their soldiers." === Iranian diaspora === Reza Pahlavi, son of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, expressed his support for the protesters, and called on all Iranians, including security and law enforcement forces, to join the protests. Maryam Rajavi, co-leader of the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (MEK) said that protesters have "struck fear into a weakened enemy", warning security forces who obey orders to crackdown on the protests that "the courts of a free Iran are awaiting (you)." Gissou Nia, a human rights lawyer and Iran expert, stated that while the economic crisis was the catalyst for the protest, the slogans and behaviour of the protesters show a profound dissatisfaction with the Iranian government and a desire to overthrow it. Iranian dissident and Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi condemned Iranian security forces for directly shooting unarmed protesters in Fasa, calling it a human rights violation. In a message shared on Instagram, Ebadi stressed that using live ammunition against unarmed civilians cannot be justified. She urged authorities to immediately stop the violence, ensure proper medical care for those injured, and investigate who authorised the use of live fire against protesters in Fasa. Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American journalist and human rights activist, stated that President Donald Trump's message to Iran gave people a "strong message" of hope, and that he is on the right side of history. === Australia === Australia's Foreign Ministry stated that the Australian government condemned the violence committed by Iranian authorities and called on Iran to respect the rights of peaceful protesters. === Israel === Mossad showed support for the protests, stating "We are with you. Not only from a distance and verbally. We are with you in the field." Israeli defence officials were on high alert, monitoring the possibility of an Iranian missile attack. Several Israeli politicians expressed support for the protests. === United States === The United States Department of State expressed support for the protesters and urged the Iranian government to respect citizens' rights and respond to their concerns instead of resorting to "violent silencing." U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran's leadership "got a lot of problems. They have tremendous inflation. Their economy is bust. And I know that people aren't so happy," also criticising the government's violent response to protests: "They kill people. Every time they have a riot, or somebody forms a group, little or big, they start shooting people." U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz posted on social media, "The people of Iran want freedom. They have suffered at the hands of the ayatollahs for too long. We stand with Iranians in the streets of Tehran and across the country as they protest a radical regime that has brought them nothing but economic downturn and war." On 2 January 2026, Donald Trump stated that the U.S. would intervene if Iran responded violently to the protests. Trump stated on Truth Social, "If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go." == See also == Capital punishment in Iran Political repression in the Islamic Republic of Iran 2025–26 Iranian budget 2025 Internet blackout in Iran Iran Prosperity Project Iranian energy crisis 2025 Iran internal crisis Death sentences during the Mahsa Amini protests Youth in Iran Deaths during the Mahsa Amini protests Economy of Iran Food inflation in Iran Involvement of foreign militias in the suppression of protests in Iran Funding of the Axis of Resistance Hijab and chastity law == Notes == == References ==