Brace yourselves—Iran is burning with unrest as citizens clash with security forces over a crumbling economy on the brink of collapse.
On the fifth straight day of chaos as of Thursday, January 1, 2026, protests that started with frustrated merchants have spiraled into a nationwide uproar, claiming lives and exposing the raw anger of a people pushed to the edge, as Fox News reports.
These demonstrations kicked off on Sunday, January 1, 2026, when shopkeepers and traders took to the streets, fed up with skyrocketing inflation, joblessness, and a currency that’s worth less than the paper it’s printed on.
By Thursday, the flames of dissent had spread from Tehran to provincial hubs like Marvdasht, Kermanshah, Delfan, and Arak, with reports of violent confrontations painting a grim picture.
Iranian officials admit to at least one death, but whispers from media and human rights groups suggest the body count is higher across various regions.
In Lordegan, located in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, tensions exploded overnight as angry crowds pelted government offices, courthouses, and banks with stones, leaving buildings battered.
Police in Lordegan responded with tear gas to scatter the mobs, but the damage was done, and Fars News Agency confirmed two fatalities without clarifying if they were protesters or security personnel.
The Kurdish rights group Hengaw insists security forces gunned down protesters in Lordegan, while the opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran claims two were killed by direct fire—though these accounts remain unverified.
Elsewhere, in Kuhdasht, officials point fingers at demonstrators for the death of a Basij paramilitary member and injuries to 13 others, but Hengaw counters that the deceased was a protester slain by authorities, leaving the truth murky.
In Fooladshahr, Isfahan province, a 37-year-old man was reportedly shot dead during overnight protests, with Iran International confirming his identity through footage, though local police offered no further details beyond acknowledging the death.
Adding to the grim toll, six women arrested in Tehran during the protests have been moved to Evin prison’s women’s ward, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.
Iran’s economy, battered by years of sanctions, rampant inflation, and a worthless currency, is the root of this fury—unlike the 2022 protests over women’s rights, today’s anger now targets the political elite directly.
On Monday, January 1, 2026, President Donald Trump and his administration threw their weight behind the demonstrators, spotlighting Iran’s economic collapse without outright demanding regime change—a cautious but pointed nod.
Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, declared, “The uprising by merchants, students and other sectors of society signals the Iranian people’s determination to be free from religious tyranny.”
Her bold claim of an inevitable overthrow by the youth might inspire hope, but let’s be real—decades of unrest in Iran show that change isn’t a guarantee, and the regime’s iron grip often outlasts the people’s resolve.
