A wave of fury has swept through Iran, transforming peaceful market protests into a nationwide revolt against authoritarian rule. Over 60 deaths have been confirmed in the ongoing anti-government demonstrations, with more than 2,300 arrests reported. The unrest, which started on December 28, 2025, in Tehran’s bazaars over economic woes, now engulfs 512 locations in every corner of the country.
Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), based in the U.S., documents at least 62 fatalities as of January 9, warning the actual number may be higher. Communication networks have been severed in hotspots, but videos and eyewitness accounts paint a picture of unrelenting defiance. Protesters decry inflation, joblessness, and the rial’s nosedive, but their ire has zeroed in on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran’s official outlets finally admitted to losses on Friday, blaming foreign saboteurs tied to America and Israel without releasing numbers. Khamenei lashed out at President Trump, calling him arrogant and culpable for Iranian blood, referencing a supposed June war with massive casualties. He signaled tougher security measures, amid televised anti-U.S. slogans.
Adding fuel to the fire, Reza Pahlavi, son of the deposed Shah, urged Trump to act swiftly via social media. Massive turnouts followed on Thursday and Friday, with crowds hailing Pahlavi and demanding his return to power. This echoes the 1979 revolution that ended the monarchy.
The regime faces its gravest crisis since the revolution. As blackouts and brutality continue, the question looms: Can Khamenei’s forces quell the uprising, or will it topple the Islamic Republic’s foundations?