Iran is witnessing its most intense wave of unrest in nearly three years, as widespread protests erupt across major cities amid a collapsing economy and mounting public anger against the clerical establishment. Demonstrators have been chanting slogans such as “mullahs must leave” and “death to the dictator,” openly challenging the authority of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The unrest has been fuelled by a rapidly weakening currency, soaring inflation, and years of economic isolation caused by sanctions, now intensified by renewed pressure from the United States under President Donald Trump.
Over the past two days, large sections of Iran have descended into chaos. The national currency, the rial, has fallen to historic lows, trading beyond 42,000 to the US dollar, while inflation has surged past 42 per cent. These economic shocks have pushed ordinary Iranians to the brink. Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad shared footage of protesters chanting in unison, declaring their rejection of the Islamic Republic. She described the scenes as the voice of a population that no longer wishes to live under clerical rule.
The unrest comes at a time when Iran’s leadership is already under strain following Israeli and US strikes on nuclear-linked facilities and the reimposition of Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign. With living costs spiralling and unemployment rising, public frustration has spilled onto the streets. Analysts say the turmoil reflects not just economic hardship but a deeper political crisis, as many Iranians now see the system itself as responsible for their suffering.
Images circulating online show dramatic scenes, including one of a man sitting defiantly on a Tehran highway as security forces approach on motorcycles. Observers have likened the image to the iconic moment of resistance during China’s Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. Several videos also captured crowds chanting pro-Shah slogans, signalling nostalgia for the pre-1979 era and open rejection of clerical rule.
Iranian state media acknowledged the protests but attempted to downplay their significance, portraying them as limited demonstrations driven by economic grievances rather than political dissent. The official news agency IRNA claimed the unrest was largely confined to mobile phone traders angered by the currency crash. However, independent reports and social media footage suggest the protests are far broader and increasingly political in nature.
The demonstrations mark the largest nationwide unrest since the 2022–23 protests that erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody. Those protests had shaken the regime and drew international condemnation for the brutal crackdown that followed. Now, once again, Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Shiraz have emerged as flashpoints, with security forces using batons and tear gas to disperse crowds.
Videos from Tehran’s Grand Bazaar showed protesters chanting slogans such as “Do not be afraid, we are all together,” while openly confronting security personnel. Iranian news agency Fars admitted that some chants had gone beyond economic demands, indicating a deeper challenge to the political order. The collapse of the rial has wiped out savings, driven up food and medicine prices, and left many families unable to meet basic needs.
The crisis has also led to political fallout within the government. Iran’s central bank chief resigned amid the turmoil, and small traders, shopkeepers and workers have joined protests in increasing numbers. While economic distress sparked the unrest, the anger reflects years of accumulated frustration over corruption, repression and lack of opportunity.
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo weighed in on the developments, saying the protests were an inevitable consequence of mismanagement and extremism. He argued that Iran’s leadership had squandered the country’s potential and that its people deserved a government that served them rather than an ideological elite.
Behind the scenes, the role of US policy looms large. Sanctions imposed after Washington withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal under Trump have crippled Iran’s economy. Renewed pressure, threats of further military action, and uncertainty surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme have only deepened the sense of instability. Analysts say these external pressures have magnified internal failures, accelerating the currency collapse and worsening public anger.
While Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has attempted to strike a conciliatory tone, acknowledging the hardships faced by ordinary citizens, experts argue that the crisis is structural and cannot be resolved without major economic reforms or sanctions relief. Economist Amir Hossein Mahdavi warned that without significant changes, Iran faces prolonged inflation and economic stagnation.
Some observers have speculated whether Washington is quietly encouraging unrest. After US officials expressed support for Iranian protesters, Iranian-Canadian politician Goldie Ghamari questioned whether the United States had effectively signalled support for regime change. However, most analysts believe the uprising is primarily homegrown, driven by years of economic mismanagement and political repression rather than foreign orchestration.
What is unfolding in Iran appears to be the culmination of long-simmering discontent. The combination of economic collapse, international isolation, and authoritarian governance has created a volatile situation. While US pressure may have accelerated the crisis, the anger on the streets reflects a population that has lost faith in the ruling system. Whether this moment leads to meaningful change or is suppressed like previous uprisings remains uncertain, but the scale and intensity of the unrest suggest the Iranian leadership is facing one of its most serious challenges in decades.
