At least 25 people have died in Iran during the first nine days of nationwide protests sparked by the plummeting value of the rial and soaring inflation, rights groups report.
The unrest, which began in Tehran’s bazaar, has spread to several cities in western and southern Iran, though it remains smaller in scale than the widespread demonstrations of 2022–23 following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police.
While initially focused on economic grievances, the protests have quickly expanded to broader political discontent, with some demonstrators chanting against the country’s clerical rulers.
Kurdish rights group Hengaw reported that the 25 fatalities include four minors and that over 1,000 people have been arrested. HRANA, a network of human rights activists, cited at least 29 deaths, including two members of the security forces, alongside 1,203 arrests as of 5 January. Reuters has not been able to independently verify these figures.
Iranian authorities have acknowledged clashes but provided limited information. At least two security personnel are reported dead, with more than a dozen injured, according to official sources. Police chief Ahmadreza Radan said that law enforcement distinguishes between peaceful protesters and “rioters” and has acted against the latter through arrests and intelligence operations.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for dialogue and pledged reforms to stabilise the monetary and banking systems while protecting citizens’ purchasing power. Authorities have introduced a subsidy reform that eliminates preferential currency exchange rates for importers in favour of direct payments to Iranians, effective 10 January.
The country’s central bank chief was replaced on 29 December, but the rial continues to slide, falling 4% to 1,489,500 per U.S. dollar since the protests began.
Despite the government’s economic measures, authorities accuse foreign-linked networks of exploiting the unrest to provoke disorder, while the judiciary has vowed to act firmly against what it describes as rioters.
The protests have now reached 27 of Iran’s 31 provinces, spreading beyond major cities into smaller towns, highlighting widespread frustration with economic conditions and governance.
