Protests Escalate in Iran Amid Economic Crisis, Internet Cut for Three Days

The Iranian government has shut down the internet for three days as protests over rising prices and the worsening economic crisis continue to escalate. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that those participating in the protests to “please the United States” will face strict punishment.

Despite the government’s warnings, demonstrations have continued in the capital Tehran and other major cities for the past 14 days. According to Iran Human Rights (IHR), at least 45 people have died during the protests, including eight children, while more than 2,000 have been injured.

British media outlet BBC reported that hospitals in Tehran are overwhelmed with injured protesters. Citizens have taken to the streets due to soaring prices of daily essentials and rising unemployment. Protesters are demanding not only economic reforms but also greater political freedom.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier warned the Iranian government against using force on protesters, saying, “It would be better if you don’t fire bullets. Otherwise, we will also start firing.”

The protests have spread from the Kurdish-majority region of Ilam near the Iraq border to northeastern provinces including Tehran and Mashhad. According to CNN, more than 100 cities have seen demonstrations. Some protesters have expressed support for the exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whose family lost power after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Pahlavi, now based in the United States, has encouraged Iranians to rise against the Islamic regime and has expressed interest in interim governance.

Organized demonstrations are also ongoing in Tehran’s markets and universities. Despite the deployment of large numbers of security forces, the protests have not been contained. Protesters have retaliated by damaging public property and setting fires.

Why This Protest is Different

Iran is facing one of the world’s highest inflation rates. Prices of essential goods, including food, have skyrocketed, forcing shopkeepers to shut down their stores and protest starting December 28. The movement has grown stronger as people from all sections of society have joined. Social media is filled with images of protesters clashing with security forces, ignoring batons and tear gas.

Protesters have shouted slogans demanding “freedom” and criticized government officials as “corrupt.” Economic sanctions by the U.S., widespread corruption, and Iran’s weak presence in global markets have severely affected the country’s economy. The 2015 nuclear deal in Paris had temporarily opened Iran to international markets, but when Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the deal in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions, the economy plunged further. The recent conflict with Israel has worsened the situation.

The December protests began when shopkeepers could neither store nor sell goods due to inflation, further straining the already fragile economy. Currently, the protests have spread to 27 of Iran’s 31 provinces. On Tuesday, the exchange rate fell to a historic low, with $1 equaling 1,470,000 Iranian rials, triggering distrust among citizens and investors.

Although the government has introduced some measures to control the economy, prices have continued to rise. This week alone, the price of cooking oil nearly tripled.

Historically, Iran has seen repeated uprisings against the government’s authoritarian rule, including after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The most recent major protest occurred in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in custody after being arrested for allegedly violating hijab rules. That movement, largely led by young people and progressives, was violently suppressed, with human rights groups reporting over 550 deaths.

Unlike previous protests, the current movement includes not only youth and progressives but also middle-class businesspeople and Shia clerics, as rising prices have affected the daily lives of all Iranians. Business leaders and religious figures had also played key roles in supporting the 1979 revolution.