Nationwide Unrest Erupts in Iran Amid Economic Crisis

Thu Jan 08 2026 16:01:09 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Protests have erupted across Iran as citizens voice their frustration over economic hardships, sparking demonstrations in 17 provinces and challenging the ruling clerical regime.

Over 100 videos verified by BBC Persian show a wave of anti-government protests spreading to at least 17 of Iran's 31 provinces. Initiated by discontent over economic policies and the drastic devaluation of the national currency, the protests have escalated in recent days, with demonstrators chanting against the Supreme Leader. Authorities have responded with increasing violence, with reports of fatalities and injuries as tensions rise across the nation.

Protests have broken out in at least 17 of Iran's 31 provinces, presenting the largest challenge to the country's clerical establishment since 2022, a BBC Verify and BBC Persian analysis has found.

The BBC's analysis of protests includes only those for which we have verified video footage - the true number is almost certainly far higher. There are reports of protests in a further 11 provinces.

The wave of protests has spread rapidly across Iran since 28 December, when anger initially broke out in the capital Tehran following a fresh and sharp devaluation of the country's currency against the dollar and other major foreign currencies.

Verified footage from the last 10 days shows evidence of anti-government demonstrations and gatherings in more than 50 towns and cities across the country, including in several regions previously perceived as being highly loyal to the state.

More than 100 videos which we geolocated and checked for publication date paint a picture of the scale of the unrest, with people taking to the streets in many major cities in Iran and presenting the largest challenge to the state since the Women, Life, and Freedom protests in 2022.

Authorities have traditionally used violence to crush unrest. During the 2022 protests - sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who had been detained in Tehran for wearing improper hijab - more than 550 people were allegedly killed by security forces, according to human rights groups.

Footage has documented protests in various cities, including Qom and Mashhad, historically considered loyalist strongholds. Experts argue that unrest in these areas signifies systemic issues affecting the government’s base support.

The latest reports indicate at least 35 fatalities, with a stern warning from authorities against opposition, highlighting the precarious balance the government must maintain to quell dissent while avoiding further escalation.

Holly Dagres, from the Washington Institute, notes that historical patterns show a reluctance on the part of the Iranian government to learn from past protests, leading to ongoing mismanagement and repression. Despite recent outbursts, analysts suggest the current protests do not represent an existential threat to the regime but highlight significant discontent within the population.