Nationwide protests erupted in Iran on December 28, 2025, after the rial hit new lows and prices surged, with early demonstrations beginning in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar. As the unrest spread to other cities and universities, chants in many places shifted from economic anger to openly political demands.
Authorities responded with a sweeping crackdown, including allegations of live fire, mass arrests, and intensified restrictions on information. On January 8, 2026, internet monitors reported a nationwide internet blackout, further limiting access to reliable reporting from inside the country.
Because of these constraints, the true scale of the violence remains difficult to verify. Reports have suggested casualty figures ranging from 12,000 to 20,000, while witnesses describe losses they believe are even higher. Human Rights Watch has said there is growing evidence of massacres in multiple locations, and that severe communications restrictions have obscured the full extent of abuses.
