Iran protests leave 116 dead amid economic, political anger

At least 116 people, including 38 security personnel, have died in protests across Iran, the rights advocacy group HRANA reported in a news release on January 10.

Seven of the protesters killed were under 18, the group said, and at least 2,638 people have been arrested since demonstrations began on December 28, 2025, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

“Based on aggregated data up to the end of the fourteenth day, 574 protest locations have been identified in 185 cities across all 31 provinces of the country,” HRANA said. The figure is cumulative, covering the period since the protests erupted.

On January 10, local authorities in Baharestan, near Tehran, reported the arrest of 100 people for disrupting public order and leading “riots,” according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

The protests began after a sharp collapse in the Iranian rial, which has plummeted amid soaring inflation estimated at 40-50% annually. Rising food prices—up more than 70% in some areas—along with unemployment, water shortages, and allegations of corruption, fueled widespread anger. Merchants and shopkeepers in Tehran, including at Alaeddin Shopping Centre, were among the first to close businesses and join the demonstrations.

Over time, the unrest has shifted from economic grievances to broader political demands. Protesters have voiced criticism of Iran’s leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and called for an end to clerical rule. Some have expressed support for exiled figures, including Reza Pahlavi, son of the late Shah.

By Khagan Isayev