Since Dec. 28, 2025, a surge of demonstrations has seized Iran, marking the most dangerous period of unrest since the 1979 revolution. Fueled by frustration over economic collapse, protests have shifted toward calling for fresh leaders. Now, what started small stands as the toughest test the current regime has ever faced.

The unrest erupted at the Grand Bazaar, the massive historic market that serves as the economic heart of the capital. Shopkeepers there shut their doors to protest the collapse of the Iranian rial, the nation’s currency. Its value crashed from 42,000 rials to a record low of roughly 1.75 million rials per US dollar. With over 53 percent of inflation, daily survival grew impossible for many citizens.

Chants quickly shifted from anger about money troubles to political attacks. Voices rose up, yelling “Death to the dictator,” demanding an end to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s hold on power.

The government responded to these demands with extreme force; security officers have used machine guns and military drones against unarmed crowds. As of Jan. 21, the Human Rights Activists News Agency reports 4,902 confirmed deaths. Another 9,387 deaths are under review.

The crackdown is far more than the use of extreme force. At least 7,389 people have suffered severe injuries amid the tension. Authorities have bgeun a massive wave of detentions, with the total number of arrests reaching 26,541. Most of them endure weeks of isolation and harsh interrogation without access to a lawyer. Though some face death penalty under charges such as ‘warring against god,’ most receive prison sentences between two and ten years.

On Jan. 8, the government shut down the internet. Further, they jammed satellite signals to stop people from sharing videos or news with the outside world.

As of late January, officers have kept demonstrations from escalating further. Streets in Tehran sit quiet now, more like a city run by soldiers than civilians. Still, what lies beneath has not changed at all. The economy is still broken, and the people are still angry. While the violence has silenced the streets for the moment, the deep frustration suggests that this movement is far from over.