Iran Faces Mounting Protests as Economic Crisis Deepens
Demonstrations against the Iranian government are ongoing across the country, fueled by a deepening economic crisis and widespread discontent with the ruling regime. The protests, which began on December 28, 2025, have reached 675 locations in 210 cities across all 31 of Iran’s provinces, marking a significant challenge to the Islamic Republic’s authority.
The unrest was initially triggered by a sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial and rising inflation, leading to shortages of essential goods. However, the protests have since broadened to include demands for fundamental political change and an finish to decades of repression, according to Amnesty International. Some factions are even calling for the return of Reza Pahlavi to lead a transitional government.
Iranian authorities have responded with a severe crackdown, employing what Amnesty International describes as “unlawful force, firearms and other prohibited weapons” against protesters. The crackdown has resulted in mass killings and serious injuries, with security forces reportedly firing on protesters from streets and rooftops. Evidence suggests the involvement of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Basij battalions, and various divisions of Iran’s police force.
The government imposed a nationwide internet and mobile network shutdown on January 8, 2026, in an attempt to conceal the extent of the violence and suppress information. The Central Bank governor resigned amid the escalating protests, but demonstrations have continued to grow in size despite ongoing arrests and killings. Reports indicate that January 2026 marks the deadliest period of repression in Iran in decades.
The protests have also extended beyond Iran’s borders. Demonstrations have taken place in several countries, including one at the American consulate on Museumplein in Amsterdam, where protesters expressed opposition to both the Iranian regime and potential military intervention. Demonstrators in the Netherlands voiced concerns about escalating conflict in the region.
The current wave of protests, which began in late December 2025, follows previous instances of unrest, including the 2022 “Woman Life Freedom” uprising and the November 2019 protests. Impunity for past abuses by Iranian security forces is believed to be fueling the current violence. The 2025-2026 Iranian protests are part of a broader pattern of Gen Z protests across Asia and are occurring amid a complex internal crisis within Iran.
As of February 21, 2026, the protests are ongoing, entering a second phase after being partially quelled by January 16th. Although Iranian authorities claimed to have suppressed the unrest, minor protests continue internally. The situation remains volatile and the development underscores growing regional instability.
