Protests in Iran, triggered by economic difficulties, have been ongoing for nearly two weeks. Clashes between protesters and police are becoming regular, and human rights organizations accuse Iranian security forces of shooting at demonstrators. The country is experiencing internet outages.
The Persian service of the BBC confirmed reports of 22 fatalities, while Iranian authorities reported six killed security personnel.
The human rights organization Iran Human Rights, based in Norway, claims that the number of killed protesters is at least 45, including eight minors.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 34 protesters and four security personnel have been reported dead, along with over 2,200 detained. Protests have spread to 111 cities and towns across Iran, including universities, where exams at Amir Kabir University in Tehran have been postponed, according to ISNA.
On Thursday, Iran faced a nationwide internet shutdown, as reported by the monitoring group NetBlocks. Phone services were also affected, leading to delays in information dissemination.
On Friday, Ayatollah Khamenei, in a televised address, labeled the protesters as vandals, claiming they were destroying their own streets to please foreign leaders. He stated that the Islamic Republic would not back down in the face of threats and condemned Trump's actions, accusing him of having blood on his hands and that his fate would be similar to that of the Shahs.
Reasons for the Iranian Protests
The protests began on December 28, when shop owners took to the streets of Tehran to express their dissatisfaction with the sharp decline in the national currency's value. Over the past year, the Iranian rial has lost value, and inflation has reached 40% — the economy is undermined by sanctions and internal issues such as corruption and ineffective governance.
Over time, students began to support the protests, spreading to other cities where slogans against Ayatollah Khamenei and in support of Reza Pahlavi, the son of the ousted Shah, were heard.
Reza Pahlavi, who is abroad, supported the protesters and called for new mass demonstrations on Thursday and Friday.
“The great people of Iran, the world is watching you. Go out into the streets and unite in your demands,” he said, addressing the protesters.
Trump, in turn, threatened tough measures if Iranian authorities continued to brutally suppress protests.
Kurdish opposition parties from Iraq called for a general strike in the Kurdish areas of Iran.
The human rights group Hengaw reported support for this strike in 30 cities, releasing footage of closed shops. In the Kurdish provinces of Ilam, Kermanshah, and Lorestan, 17 protesters have been reported killed, many of whom belong to Kurdish or Lur ethnic minorities.
The Persian service of the BBC confirmed that protests in Tehran and Mashhad continue despite attempts to disperse them.
In one video, a crowd of protesters can be seen chanting slogans and attempting to take down surveillance cameras.
In Mashhad, protesters also chanted slogans in support of the Shah, while in other areas cries of “Death to the dictator” and “Don’t be afraid, we are all together” were heard after clashes with police.
In Dezful, footage was recorded showing demonstrators and security personnel firing at each other.
On Thursday, Trump reiterated his threats to Iranian authorities if they continued to kill protesters.
Airlines began canceling flights to Iran: Turkish Airlines canceled five flights, and other airlines also changed their routes.
On Wednesday, the human rights organization Iran Human Rights announced that this day had become the bloodiest since the protests began, confirming the death of at least 13 protesters.
Videos on social media captured clashes between protesters and police, where gunfire and the use of tear gas could be heard.
In Qazvin, protesters chanted “Death to the dictator,” while in Bandar Abbas, calls for support of the police were heard before they were dispersed by security forces.
In Mashhad, protesters clashed with police, forcing them to retreat, and also chanted slogans in support of the ousted Pahlavi dynasty.
A large demonstration also took place in Abadan, where slogans against the spiritual leadership were voiced.
In other footage, security forces were seen firing in an attempt to contain protesters who were throwing stones and other objects at them.
At night, security forces used tear gas to disperse protesters in Aligudarze.
In Kayemiyye, protesters toppled a statue of Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. strike in 2020.
The Iranian agency Fars reported two police officers killed in Lordegan, which is linked to the actions of “rebels.”
There were also reports of an attack on a police officer in the Mallard district.
However, verifying this information is difficult as independent media face serious restrictions in Iran.
Response of the Iranian Authorities
After a cabinet meeting, Vice President Mohammad Jafar Kayeempanah stated that the president had not issued orders regarding peaceful protesters.
“Rebels attacking security forces must be distinguished from peaceful demonstrators,” he added.
State media reported the introduction of a new allowance of $7 for 71 million citizens in an attempt to alleviate the financial burden.
The head of the judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, stated that “rebels” would be swiftly punished to prevent further unrest.
Ayatollah Khamenei on Saturday called on the authorities to engage in dialogue with the protesters but emphasized the need to “punish the rebels.”
Opinions of Local Residents
An activist based in the UK conveyed to the BBC the words of one Tehran resident who described the protests as a manifestation of despair.
“I feel suspended. Life has become unbearable,” she said.
Another woman noted that she joined the protests because her dreams had been “stolen” by the authorities, and she wanted to show that the people have a voice.
A young woman from Ilam spoke about her acquaintances who, despite connections with the authorities, participate in the protests.
25-year-old Mina from Kuhdasht expressed a desire to live a peaceful life rather than engage in politics.
According to her, the current political priorities are outdated and do not reflect today’s realities.
The reaction to possible foreign interference in the protests divided opinions among Iranians. Some oppose it, fearing new suffering.
“50 years of this regime's rule have led to poverty and disappointment,” noted a resident of Isfahan.
He does not want his country to suffer from military conflicts and seeks peace without the Islamic Republic.
Expert Opinions
Sanam Vakil from Chatham House emphasized that the protests have taken on a political hue, reflecting widespread discontent among the population.
“People are tired. They have no hope for the future. Problems are worsening every day,” she noted.
Sadegh Zibakalam, a professor at Tehran University, believes that the authorities are cautious due to threats from the U.S.
These protests have become the largest since 2022, when unrest began following the death of Mahsa Amini, who was detained by the morality police.
According to human rights defenders, more than 550 people died as a result of the suppression of the 2022 protests.
The current protests have not yet reached the scale of those unrests.
In response to the mass unrest, Iranian authorities have restricted internet access. Communities have called for the use of the encrypted messenger BitChat, developed by Jack Dorsey.
According to Chromestats, downloads of the app increased by 43,000 in one day and by 437,900 in a week, but it is unclear how many of these were from Iran.
Source: Chromestats. The app previously gained attention in Nepal and Indonesia during protests against the government.
BitChat does not require the internet: each Bluetooth device in the network functions as a client and relay, transmitting encrypted messages up to 30 meters away.
Elon Musk also offered the possibility of connecting via Starlink satellites, and users have already reached out to him requesting to deploy equipment in Iran.
Reports indicate that Musk has responded to these requests.
In recent days, mass protests have been observed in Iran, triggered by a sharp rise in prices and the devaluation of the national currency. According to human rights organizations and local media, at...
According to Deutsche Welle, Iran has experienced almost a complete internet shutdown due to protests related to the sharp decline in the value of the rial. The British organization NetBlocks...
Photo from the internet. Mass protests in Iran In Iran, mass protests have been ongoing for several days, triggered by a sharp deterioration in the economic situation. The protests have spread not...
According to a report from the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) on December 5, the human rights organization Human Rights Activists in Iran and its media network HRANA confirmed that during the...
The protests that began in late December have spread to at least 88 cities, corresponding to 27 out of 31 provinces of Iran. According to human rights activists, in some cases, security forces used...
The protests in Iran have not subsided since December 28, starting at the main city bazaar in Tehran, where shop owners closed their stores due to hyperinflation and sharp price fluctuations. On...
On Iranian television on January 3, Ali Khamenei commented for the first time on the mass protests that began in late December, pointing to the need for strict measures against the participants in...
According to U.S. President Donald Trump, if Iranian authorities begin to use force against participants in peaceful protests, the United States will be ready to support them. Trump noted in his post...
Mass protests continue in Iran, triggered by rising prices and deteriorating living conditions. The demonstrations, which have spread across major cities and have been ongoing for a long time,...
Mass protests are erupting in Iran, during which demonstrators set fire to the building of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In response, the authorities deployed ground troops to support local...
According to information from Fox News, protesters in Abdanan, located near the border with Iraq, have completely taken control of the city, as claimed by representatives of the National Council of...
According to information from the Independent Persian website, protests in the country are ongoing. On January 7, opposition representatives reported the capture of the cities of Abdanan and...
Today, January 6, at the largest bazaar in Tehran, traders closed their shops as part of a nationwide strike, chanting slogans of "Freedom." Protests in Iran, which have been ongoing for...
According to official data provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, protests have been taking place in various cities of Iran in recent days. As of January 6, 2026, there...
Protest sentiments in Iran are becoming increasingly pronounced. Experts believe that there is a high likelihood that Israel and the USA may attempt to exploit interethnic conflicts in the country...
Against the backdrop of a sharp collapse in the value of the Iranian rial, which reached 1.39 million rials per dollar on the unofficial market, Iran has witnessed the largest protests in the last...
The situation in Iran continues to escalate: the authorities have effectively lost control over the city of Abdanan, located in the west of the country. Western media report that protests in this...
For the sixth day, anti-government protests in Iran have resulted in at least six reported deaths. These protests, which began in response to a sharp increase in prices, have become the largest...
Vendors and traders cross the bridge during protests against economic conditions and unstable currency in Tehran on December 29, 2025. Some traders closed their shops in protest against economic...
As a result of clashes in Lordegan, two protesters were shot dead by government forces, according to information from Hengaw. One person was also reported dead in Kuhdasht, and Fars mentions three...
In recent days, unauthorized protests have been observed in several cities in Iran, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic. As of January 6, 2026, according to...
Protests have engulfed Minneapolis (Minnesota) following an incident in which U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot and killed 37-year-old poetess Rene Good. According to...
In recent statements, Trump noted that the U.S. commitment to protecting Iranian protesters and the threat of control over Greenland could raise concerns in countries like Iran and Denmark. He...
This weekend, mass protests took place in the Somali region of Somaliland, triggered by Israel's decision to recognize this territory as a sovereign state. Dozens of people took to the streets...
A tragic incident occurred in Minneapolis when ICE agents shot a woman who had stopped her car in front of their pickup truck. According to Meduza, the situation quickly escalated into protests. The...
The Venezuelan government has announced the start of a process to release a "significant number" of both local and foreign prisoners, including well-known opposition figures. According to...
Protests against the authorities continue to unfold in Iran. In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan strongly advises citizens to refrain from visiting this country. According...
Photo from the internet. From January 1st, traffic will be restricted on Chingiz Aitmatov Avenue in Bishkek Starting January 1, 2026, a section of Chingiz Aitmatov Avenue in Bishkek, which runs from...
The number of journalist deaths has increased compared to the previous year In 2025, according to data from the International Federation of Journalists, the number of journalists killed worldwide...
Due to emergency work on the 400 mm water main on Kureenkeeva Street, the supply of drinking water will be temporarily suspended in the northern part of Bishkek. This shutdown is scheduled for...
According to Diosdado Cabello, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Venezuela, at least 100 people have died as a result of the United States' attack on the country. He noted that among the...
Today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Jeenbek Kulubaev, held a telephone conversation with Maxim Ryzhenkov, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, as reported by the...
In Bishkek, the city hall confirmed that the three deceased men were employees of the municipal enterprise "Tazalyk." According to the city hall, the incident occurred on December 30. After...
The Venezuelan government announced on Thursday, January 8, the release of a "significant number" of prisoners, including well-known opposition figures and foreign citizens. Details such...
The city hall of Osh has announced a temporary closure of part of Alymbek Datka Street. According to the provided information, today, January 7, from 08:00 to 20:00, a section of this street will be...
The defense ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have signed a ceasefire agreement that takes effect immediately, according to BBC News. Under the reached agreements, the troops of both countries will...
With the beginning of 2026, the world has entered a new, harsh phase of changes in international relations. Political scientist Timur Saralaev expressed on his social media page the opinion that...
On December 29, residents of the Altyn-Ordo residential area will face a water supply shutdown, as reported by the press service of Bishkek. From 09:00 to 22:00, water will not be supplied to...
According to Michael Nichols, Vice President of SpaceX, Starlink satellites will be moved to a new altitude in 2026 — 480 kilometers, which is lower than the current 550 kilometers. This decision is...
According to BBC information, 115 suspects linked to the "Islamic State" have been arrested in Turkey due to their possible involvement in planning attacks during Christmas and New Year....
Every year, around 7 billion male chicks are destroyed worldwide, which corresponds to the planet's population. According to the latest data, by 2015 this number was 7 billion and is likely...
A serious car accident occurred on the M-5 "Ural" highway in the Orenburg region, resulting in the deaths of three citizens of Kyrgyzstan, including a child. According to Russian media...
The situation in Venezuela has escalated amid news of a possible military operation by the U.S., which may include strikes on the country's territory and the detention of President Nicolás...
At the People's Kurultai on December 25, President Sadyr Japarov stated that currently only 30-35 rivers flow into Issyk-Kul. He emphasized the importance of protecting the natural wealth and...
According to the information provided, the deal scheduled for January 22 will conclude years of efforts by the U.S. government to force ByteDance to divest its assets in the country due to national...
