Archive · 31 Dec 2025
Iran Faces Widespread Protests Amid Economic Crisis
People in Iran are protesting because the country's money is losing value, making life harder.
The protests started with shopkeepers and then students joined in.
The government says it wants to talk to the protesters to understand their problems.
The money in Iran, called the rial, is worth much less now than before, and prices are going up.
The government is trying to fix the economy, but it's very hard because of problems like sanctions from other countries.
There have been big protests in the past too, about other things like the death of a young woman in police custody.
The government is trying to make changes, but people are still upset.
Protests spread to 10 universities across Iran, including seven in Tehran, following demonstrations by shopkeepers.
The Iranian rial hit a record low of 1,420,000 to the U.S. dollar, with inflation reaching 52% in December.
President Masoud Pezeshkian offered dialogue with protest leaders and proposed measures to address the economic crisis.
Security forces were deployed in Tehran, and some shops reopened after closing the previous day.
The government replaced the central bank governor and warned against foreign agents exploiting the protests.
- Who
- Iranian students, shopkeepers, bazaar merchants, government officials
- What
- Protests and economic crisis in Iran
- When
- Protests on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday; government response on Tuesday
- Where
- Tehran and other cities in Iran, including universities
- Why
- Economic pressure, currency devaluation, inflation, high prices, corruption
- Protest Locations
- Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, Zanjan, and other cities, including universities
- Protest Causes
- Currency devaluation, inflation, economic pressure, high prices, corruption
- Government Response
- Dialogue with protest leaders, recognition of protests, economic proposals
- Currency Exchange Rate
- 1,420,000 Iranian rial to 1 USD (record low)
- Inflation Rate
- 52% in December 2024 (year-on-year)
- Recent Protests
- 2022-2023 over Mahsa Amini's death, 2019 over petrol price hikes
- International Pressure
- U.S. sanctions, Israeli airstrikes, UN sanctions on nuclear programme
- Government Measures
- Replacement of central bank governor, proposals to tackle economic crisis
Sources
Iran’s government offers dialogue to protesters
Iran threatens ‘harsh, regrettable’ response to any aggression after Trump's ‘will knock them down’ warning
Iran’s government offers dialogue as protests spread to universities
Shops closed, plunged currency: Here’s why Tehran is under protest | WION Explains
Iran President Signals Severe Retaliation After Trump Warning
Iran protests spread from bazaars to universities; govt offers dialogue - Why they erupted
Hundreds take to streets of Iran for third day as protests grow over cost of living crisis
Students Across Iran Stage Protest As Economic Crisis Deepens
Iran protests intensify as public anger over soaring prices and collapsing rial spreads nationwide
Iran’s exiled Crown Prince demands 'downfall of Khamenei's system' amid massive protest — Is regime change possible?
Who is Abdolnasser Hemmati? Iran appoints new central bank governor as rial hits record low of 1.39mn to dollar