Tehran is gripped by escalating anti-government protests that show no signs of abating. What began as economic grievances has morphed into a full-throated challenge to the ruling theocracy. Reports indicate at least 62 people have lost their lives since the unrest erupted in late December 2025, with human rights monitors suggesting the toll could exceed 65. Thousands more have been detained as security forces clamp down amid widespread chaos.
The demonstrations, now in their second week, have spread to 180 cities across all 31 provinces of Iran. Initially sparked by soaring inflation, rampant unemployment, and the plummeting value of the rial in Tehran’s bustling markets, the protests have evolved into direct confrontations with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime. Internet blackouts and communication disruptions have become commonplace in affected areas, yet the fury on the streets persists.
For the first time, state media acknowledged casualties on Friday, though it provided no specific figures. Instead, it pointed fingers at ‘terrorist agents’ linked to the United States and Israel. Khamenei, in a fiery address, branded U.S. President Donald Trump a ‘braggart’ with blood on his hands, urging him to focus on America’s own woes. He hinted at harsher crackdowns ahead, as chants of ‘Death to America’ echoed on state television.
Khamenei took to social media platform X, accusing Trump of ordering a June conflict that killed over 1,000 Iranians. Meanwhile, exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has called on Trump for immediate intervention, rallying supporters who chanted for his return. Pahlavi’s father was the last Shah, ousted in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
As tensions mount, the protests represent the most serious threat to the regime in years. With arrests surpassing 2,300 and violence intensifying, Iran teeters on the brink. International observers watch closely, wondering if this spark will ignite broader upheaval or be extinguished by iron-fisted response.