Iran Grapples With Renewed Nationwide Protests

As 2025 came to a close, mass protests once again swept across Iran, bringing thousands of civilians onto the streets. The country has been rocked by demonstrations since September 2022, when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody. The Kurdish woman was arrested in Tehran for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic's dress code for women, and reports surfaced that police officials had beaten her while detained. Now, amid a deepening economic crisis and widespread dissatisfaction with the government, a new wave of demonstrations has gripped the country as 2026 begins.

As one of the most sanctioned countries in the world, Iran faces international restrictions that limit access to foreign markets and freeze their assets abroad. The country's growing dependency on imports has fueled inflation, driving the cost of living higher for millions of families. Just days ago, the Iranian rial dropped to 1.42 million against the US dollar, pushing food prices up by an average of 72% compared to last year. Additionally, Iran has struggled to stabilize its economy in the aftermath of its June conflict with Israel, during which US strikes targeted Iranian nuclear sites.

What began as a single protest by shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar has now spread to 17 of Iran's 31 provinces. Thousands of citizens across Iranian society, particularly young people and students, have mobilized in major cities including Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz and Mashhad. Demonstrators have taken to the streets chanting slogans of “freedom” and “death to the dictator,” a direct reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

At least ten protesters have died as security officials responded with grenades, tear gas, paintball pellets, and, in some cases, live ammunition. Iran’s “Women, Life, Freedom” protests in 2022 and 2023 were met with brutal crackdowns, resulting in hundreds of deaths. Despite this, many Iranians continue to march, calling for the removal of the regime. The demonstrations have also drawn international attention, particularly from the United States.

Early Friday, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that “if Iran [shoots] and violently kills peaceful protesters,” the US would step in to “rescue” them. While he did not specify the means, he added that the US is “locked and loaded and ready to go.” Iranian officials responded with their own threats, warning that American interference would bring “chaos across the entire region and the destruction of American interests,” a pointed reference to the US military presence in the Middle East. Trump’s remarks coincided with the US military’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a close ally of Iran, heightening tensions in Tehran given the countries’ long-standing security, oil and economic cooperation.

Whether Trump’s threats materialize or remain rhetorical, the Islamic Republic faces an unprecedented challenge to its very existence. Iranian officials grapple with a collapsing economy and a wave of domestic unrest that shows no signs of slowing. The coming months will determine whether the regime can maintain control—or whether these protests mark the start of a new chapter for Iranian society, one in which citizens demand greater accountability, economic stability and freedom from their leaders.

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• Natana DeLong- Bas, Boston College 

• Mansoureh Galestan- National Council of Resistance of Iran 

• Deepa Parent and William Christou- The Guardian