Iran is experiencing its most widespread uprising in over three decades. What began as protests against economic hardship has rapidly transformed into a broader revolt against the regime of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Demonstrations have now spread across 21 provinces, plunging the country into unprecedented unrest. The situation has deteriorated to the extent that the army has been deployed on the streets.
Economic Crisis Drives Protests
The protests are driven by a combination of recession, soaring inflation, currency devaluation, worsening living conditions, and deepening public discontent with the Islamic regime. The primary trigger has been the continuous collapse of the Iranian currency, which has severely impacted everyday life and intensified demands for political change.
IRGC Targeted For First Time During Protests
For the first time, protesters are directly targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s most elite military and security force, which reports directly to Supreme Leader Khamenei and had largely remained untouched during previous unrest. This time, IRGC bases are being set on fire, and slogans openly targeting Khamenei are being chanted on the streets, with calls for stripping him of power.
Protesters Storm Government Buildings
In the city of Fasa, protesters stormed a local government building, breaking down the gates of the Fasa Governorate office. Similar incidents have been reported from several other cities as anger continues to boil over.
Statues Of Supreme Leader Toppled
The anger toward Khamenei has reached such a level that his statues are now being toppled. In Ardabil, protesters brought down a statue of the Supreme Leader that had been erected just two days earlier.
Violence has continued to escalate, with at least six people killed in clashes between protesters and security forces in southwestern Iran.
These are the most widespread protests in Iran since the hijab controversy, involving people across age groups and social classes. Demonstrators are now chanting slogans calling for an end to Islamic rule and even demanding the return of the monarchy.
Why Is Iran Suffering From Inflation?
The war with Israel and prolonged US sanctions have had a severe impact on Iran’s economy, particularly the rial. The value of one US dollar has now reached 1.4 million Iranian rials, an all-time low, with little expectation of stabilization in the near future. By contrast, in 2015, one dollar was equivalent to just 32,000 rials, meaning the currency has depreciated nearly 40 to 45 times over the past decade.
This collapse has directly fueled inflation, which stood at nearly 50 percent by December 2025. Prices of food, milk, grains, and other essential goods have risen by more than 70 percent compared to last year.
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