At least 16 people have died, 44 are injured, and 119 have been arrested for participating in protests in Iran. The protests erupted following the sudden devaluation of the Iranian currency, which has sparked anti-government demonstrations across the nation, including in the capital, Tehran. According to reports, protests have taken place in 60 cities across 25 of Iran’s 31 provinces.
The unrest, which began on December 28 with shopkeepers in Tehran closing their stores in protest of the economic downturn, has now escalated into wider anti-government demonstrations. At least 16 people have been killed, including 15 protesters and one security officer. Additionally, 44 people have been injured by gunfire, and at least 119 people have been arrested for participating in the protests.
The current demonstrations are the largest seen in Iran since 2022, when the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody, after refusing to wear a hijab, sparked widespread protests. Over the past six months, the Iranian rial has lost over 50% of its value, reaching a historic low of 1.4 million rials to the dollar. The cost of living has surged, with food prices alone increasing by about half compared to the same time last year, exacerbating public discontent. An upcoming tax set to be implemented in March is further fueling public anger.
Students have joined the protests, with universities shifting classes online to curb gatherings. A 20-year-old student, Reza, described police interrogations and beatings as they searched for protest leaders in dormitories.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the protesters “rioters” and urged authorities to “crush” the protests in his first public speech since they began.