Two killed, 30 injured in clashes between rioters and police in Iran

At least two people were killed and around 30 others injured after rioters opened fire on police during unrest in the city of Lordegan, located in Iran’s Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province.

The incident began at around 10:00 a.m. on January 7, when a group of shopkeepers closed their businesses and gathered in several streets of the city, chanting slogans. The number of participants was initially estimated at approximately 300, Caliber.Az reports, citing Fars News Agency.

As protesters moved toward the Khardoun neighbourhood and the Shirouni Bridge, the situation deteriorated after individuals described as provocateurs infiltrated the crowd, escalating tensions and leading to direct confrontations with police forces.

During the clashes, some rioters reportedly began throwing stones at law enforcement officers. Fars News Agency reported that armed individuals were present among the crowd, carrying both military-grade and hunting weapons. These individuals allegedly opened fire on police, resulting in multiple casualties.

In addition to the casualties, rioters caused damage to the governor’s office and several other administrative buildings in Lordegan.

The current wave of unrest in Iran began in late December 2025 and is rooted primarily in deep economic distress. A precipitous collapse in the value of the Iranian rial currency, which reached record lows against the U.S. dollar, combined with soaring inflation and rising living costs, sparked initial strikes and demonstrations, especially among shopkeepers and merchants in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and other commercial centres. These economic grievances quickly spread nationwide as the public’s confidence in government economic management eroded.

According to Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) and its media project HRANA, at least 35 people have been killed, while more than 1,200 participants have been arrested. Among the dead are 29 protesters, four children, and two members of the security forces, rights activists say.

By Vugar Khalilov