Protests in Iran escalate into armed unrest and attacks on public facilities

Protests in several northeastern and central provinces of Iran have escalated into violent unrest, with armed groups appearing on the streets, clashes reported with security forces, and attacks targeting public and religious buildings.

According to the Tasnim news agency, one of the most serious incidents occurred on the evening of January 2 in the city of Borujerd in North Khorasan province. What initially began as a protest triggered by sharp fluctuations in the Iranian rial exchange rate quickly escalated into riots, during which roads were blocked, and public order deteriorated.

Fars news agency reported that groups involved in the unrest chanted anti-governmental slogans, attacked administrative buildings and mosques, threw stones at civilians, and set vehicles on fire. Similar incidents were reported in Tehran, Qom, Ilam, and several other regions, where scattered groups armed with bladed weapons and firearms were seen attacking government facilities and provoking confrontations with residents.

The latest violence comes amid a broader wave of nationwide protests that began on December 28, 2025. Demonstrations erupted simultaneously in multiple cities against the backdrop of a deepening economic crisis and growing public dissatisfaction with the authorities. What initially started as protests over economic grievances rapidly expanded into wider unrest involving large segments of the population.

The first demonstrations were reported in Tehran’s commercial districts, where shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began strikes and gatherings. The movement then spread to universities, drawing in large numbers of students across the country, significantly expanding the geographic and social scope of the protests. As the demonstrations intensified, they evolved into the largest period of unrest in Iran since the 2022–2023 protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini.

The protests have been driven by a rapidly deteriorating economic situation. Year-on-year inflation reached 48.6 per cent in October 2025 before easing slightly to 42.2 per cent in December, placing severe pressure on household incomes. By December 29, the Iranian rial had fallen to a record low of 1.45 million to the US dollar, sharply increasing the cost of food and other essential goods and leaving many citizens struggling to meet basic needs.

The currency crisis, which has been developing over several years, intensified in 2025 due to the twelve-day war with Israel and the reimposition of United Nations nuclear-related sanctions through the snapback mechanism. These factors further strained the economy and accelerated the decline of the national currency.

From Tehran, the protests spread to major cities including Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad. In the capital, demonstrations were concentrated around the Grand Bazaar, where merchants demanded government action to address economic instability. Footage circulated on social media showed security forces using tear gas to disperse crowds as protests expanded and confrontations became more frequent across multiple urban centres.

By Tamilla Hasanova