Tehran – Protests continue to spread across Iran, entering their second week amid growing international concern over the government’s response and a rising death toll now confirmed at 35, including four children, according to human rights monitoring groups. The demonstrations, initially sparked by economic hardship on December 28th, now encompass nearly all of Iran’s provinces and have resulted in over 1,200 arrests to date. The unrest presents a important challenge to the Islamic Republic, drawing condemnation from the U.S. and raising questions about the stability of the region.
Aktual.: January 6, 2026 04:44
Published: January 6, 2026, 04:14
Tehran – Protests across Iran have entered their second week, with the death toll rising to 35, including four children, according to the U.S.-based human rights organization HRANA. The ongoing demonstrations, which began as economic grievances, are now spreading across the country and have led to over 1,200 arrests. The escalating unrest comes amid heightened international scrutiny and following a warning from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the Iranian government’s response to the protests.
The demonstrations initially erupted on December 28 in Tehran, fueled by frustration over the declining value of the Iranian currency. They have since expanded to encompass 27 of Iran’s 31 provinces, taking place in approximately 250 locations nationwide, HRANA reported. The organization, which has a track record of providing accurate information during previous protest movements, stated that 29 protesters, four children, and two security personnel have lost their lives.
Nearly 300 police officers and volunteer security forces have reportedly been injured during the clashes, according to the Iranian Fars news agency.
What began as protests led by merchants angered by economic conditions has broadened to include diverse segments of the population, including university students, giving the movement a significant political dimension. The current wave of protests represents the largest unrest in Iran in three years. While not yet reaching the scale of the 2022-2023 protests sparked by the death of a Kurdish woman in police custody, or the 2009 demonstrations following presidential elections, they pose a substantial challenge to the ruling regime.
President Trump has threatened a strong response from the United States should the Iranian government continue to kill protesters. Meanwhile, The Times reported, citing a source within Iranian intelligence, that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is considering fleeing to Moscow if the unrest persists. The development underscores the potential for significant political instability within Iran and its potential impact on regional dynamics.
