Iran protests: Violent protests erupt across Iran over worsening economic conditions, at least 7 reported killed

Protests that began in Iran nearly a week ago turned violent with the start of the New Year. According to the Associated Press report, protests fueled by Iran’s struggling economy expanded on Thursday into rural regions of the Islamic Republic, with authorities reporting at least seven deaths, the first confirmed fatalities among both demonstrators and security personnel since the unrest began.

What triggered the recent wave of violent demonstrations in the country?

The killings could signal the beginning of Iran’s theocracy’s harsher reaction to the protests, which have stalled in Tehran but spread to other parts of the country. The four cities, which are mostly inhabited by Iran’s Lur ethnic group, saw two deaths on Wednesday and five on Thursday.

These current protests represent the largest scale of dissent in Iran since 2022, following the killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while she was held in police custody. The demonstrations mark the largest wave of protests since the nationwide unrest in 2022, which was triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody following her arrest for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly.

What is the reported death toll?

Azna, a city in Lorestan Province in Iran, was hit hard by these violent occurrences. Azna is located approximately 300 kilometers (185 miles) southwest of Tehran. Videos that were posted online appear to depict objects on fire in the streets, with gunfire ringing out while large crowds chant phrases such as “Shameless! Shameless!”

At least two people were killed on Thursday morning during confrontations between protesters and police in Lordegan county of the southwestern Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, CNN cited the state-affiliated Fars News Agency as saying. It was not immediately clear whether those killed were civilians or members of the security forces. Some demonstrators were armed and allegedly opened fire at police personnel, though no evidence was provided to support the claim.

Why are Iranians taking to the streets amid worsening economic conditions?

Meanwhile, unverified videos circulating on social media showed protesters hurling stones at uniformed police officers in the area. The agency also claimed that protesters targeted the governor’s office, banks, and other government buildings by pelting them with stones. On Wednesday night, one member of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force was killed, and 13 others were injured after protests turned violent in the city of Kuhdasht in Lorestan province, CNN cited the state-affiliated media as saying.

Online video captured a demonstration taking place in Lordegan, a city located in Iran’s Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, as demonstrated by demonstrators in the street and gunfire in the background. The videos appear to have been taken in Lordegan, which is approximately 470 kilometers (290 miles) south of Tehran.

Reza Pahlavi, living in exile in the United States, wrote on X, “As the world welcomes the New Year, the dawn of a new era in Iran is upon us. My brave compatriots are on the streets in cities and towns across our country—fighting for their freedom, risking their lives. The current regime has reached the end of the road. It stands at its most fragile: weak, deeply divided, and unable to suppress the courage of a rising nation. The growing protests show this year will be the definitive moment for change.”

As the world welcomes the New Year, the dawn of a new era in Iran is upon us. My brave compatriots are on the streets in cities and towns across our country—fighting for their freedom, risking their lives. The current regime has reached the end of the road. It stands at its most…

— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) December 31, 2025

‘To the international community: I call upon you to stand with the people of Iran not only in word but in action. Peace in the Middle East and stability across the world depend on a free Iran. Unlike the 46 years of chaos and terror this regime has brought, the new, democratic Iran I seek to forge will usher in an era of prosperity and security. The tide of history is turning. I invite you not only to witness the birth of a new Iran, but to stand by our side as we achieve it and to work with us to build a legacy of lasting peace,” he added. Shopkeepers, bazaar traders, and students joined protests in several Iranian cities this week, raising anti-regime slogans amid worsening economic conditions following the national currency’s fall to record lows.