Iran Faces Unprecedented Protests Amid Economic Crisis: What’s Driving the Unrest?
Protests Erupt Across Iran
Tehran: Recent days have seen a surge of protests throughout Iran, driven by a worsening economic situation and a series of crises. Reports indicate that clashes between protesters and security forces have resulted in at least 27 fatalities.
Social media has been flooded with videos depicting large-scale protests in Abdanan, a city in the central Ilam province, where significant demonstrations have occurred over the past week.
The footage reveals thousands of participants, including families with children and elderly individuals, marching through the streets while chanting slogans, even as helicopters flew overhead.
The number of protesters appeared to far exceed that of the security forces deployed to manage the unrest.
According to the Norway-based organization Iran Human Rights (IHR), security personnel have killed at least 27 demonstrators, among them five minors.
Iranian officials have also acknowledged casualties among their ranks, including a police officer who was shot dead on Tuesday.
State media confirmed that at least three individuals lost their lives during the protests.
They reported that a police officer was killed following armed confrontations that erupted after funeral processions for earlier victims.
In his first public response to the unrest, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stern warning, stating that those he labeled as rioters must be 'put in their place.'
Tensions remain high in the surrounding areas, where protests began on December 28, with shopkeepers closing their businesses in solidarity.
Similar scenes were observed in various commercial districts of Tehran on Tuesday, including Yaftabad, reflecting rising frustration over economic difficulties and foreign policy issues.
In the provincial capital of Ilam, videos showed security forces entering Imam Khomeini Hospital, seemingly to identify and detain injured protesters.
Human rights organization Amnesty International condemned these actions as violations of international law, highlighting the lengths to which Iranian authorities will go to suppress dissent.
As the protests escalated, Iran's exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi made his first direct appeal to the Iranian populace.
In a message amid the turmoil, he urged citizens to begin chanting at 8 PM on January 8th and 9th, whether in the streets or from their homes, promising to announce further actions based on their response.
This current wave of protests is being characterized as the most significant movement in the Islamic Republic since the nationwide demonstrations of 2022–2023, which were sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody for allegedly breaching Iran's strict dress code for women.