Three teenagers killed, more than 40 detained amid Iran protests

Three teenagers have been killed and over 40 others detained amid ongoing protests in Iran.

According to Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI), demonstrations have spread to 78 cities, resulting in 990 arrests and 20 deaths so far, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Guardian.

HRAI Deputy Director Skylar Thompson confirmed that the deaths of minors have been documented. 

“These numbers provide clear evidence that youth are present throughout the ongoing protests. The indiscriminate targeting of a civilian population must be widely condemned as a violation of international law, especially with the clear illustration of children present,” Thompson said.

The current protests erupted after a sharp plunge in the value of the Iranian rial and soaring inflation that has eroded ordinary people’s purchasing power, sparking demonstrations by shopkeepers, students and workers demanding economic relief and government reforms.

Security forces have been deployed nationwide to quell unrest, with clashes reported in major cities as student groups and labour unions called for broader mobilisation, indicating deepening public frustration with economic hardship and state response.

Iran’s government acknowledged the severity of the economic situation, replacing the central bank governor and offering dialogue with protesters, but continued sanctions, currency collapse and rising living costs have sustained momentum for demonstrations.

This wave of protests is viewed by analysts as the largest since the 2022 movement following Mahsa Amini’s death, reflecting long‑standing grievances over economic mismanagement, government corruption and declining living standards.

By Jeyhun Aghazada