How to Follow Protests in Iran

Written By Daniel Stoker

Roughly two weeks ago a sudden collapse in the value of the Iranian rial sparked protests in Iran. The protests quickly took on an anti-government tone with chants of “death to the dictator,” “we fight, we die, we take back Iran” and “neither headscarf no baton; freedom and equality,” among others. The protests have quickly engulfed Iran’s major cities and rival past outbursts of protests including those in 2009, 2018, and 2022. Over the past year the Iranian regime has weathered a devastating war with Israel (and to a very limited extent the US), a worsening water crisis, and a struggling economy. It is difficult to gauge the exact popularity of the regime in Tehran with much accuracy, but it is clear that support is quite limited, especially in certain neighborhoods across the capital. Given the blows to the Islamic Republic over the past years, many analysts are trying to discern how much more it can take before it collapses or splinters.

What We Know:

  • Protests erupted on 28 DEC 2025 after the value of the rial lost 45 percent of its value compared to the US dollar overnight. Merchants in the capital closed their shops and took to the streets protesting the economic situation in the country. The protests quickly took on a broader anti-government tone and spread to other major cities throughout the country.

  • Some anti-government protesters have targeted symbols of the regime setting fire to police stations and even mosques while Iranian security forces initially responded with tear gas and riot control methods. During the protests references to and support for the Pahlavi dynasty that was exiled in 1979 have increased compared to previous rounds of protests.

  • After shutting off the internet on 8 JAN, the regime began a violent crackdown on the protests. According to several reports, security forces fired indiscriminately on protesters over several days killing thousands.

  • US president Donald Trump was briefed on bombing regime targets in Iran in support of the protesters and has issued posts on social media threatening the regime if it kills protesters.

Video of protests in Tehran on 9 Janary with protesters chanting "Long live the Shah"

Here are some links to trusted voices on Iran. These individuals have studied Iran for decades and have a track record of measured and sound analysis of the Islamic Republic.

According to some accounts online, protesters have targeted mosques and religious shrines in Iran

According to Holly Dagres, the core grievances of the protests are government mismanagement of the economy, corruption, and political repression. However if you spend too much time scrolling X, TikTok, or any other social media platform you may think that these protests are a rejection of Islam, Israeli/foreign instigation, or something else all together. Judging motivations during periods of social unrest is difficult. In my experience, protests are rarely as representative of the general public sentiment as they appear online. Protests are obviously are reflections of public discontent, but protesters will have unique reasons for participating in them. One final note, perhaps the biggest weakness of protest movements is that they provide an avenue to express frustration and discontent but they most often are decentralized and fail to offer a viable alternative to the status quo. Many protesters may support a return of the Pahlavi monarchy, others may support liberal democratic solution, while others may want to reform the current system. As previously mentioned the current situation in Iran is fluid, volatile, and unpredictable.

Daniel Stoker
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