Iran Protests: Islamic Republic Feels Pressure

• Iran faces major protests over economy, corruption and government's accountability.
• Protests spread to 100 cities; demonstrators want political leadership removal.
• Internet blocked; dozens reported dead, thousands arrested amid state crackdown.

Iran is witnessing one of its biggest waves of anti-government protests in years. Demonstrations have been reported in more than 100 cities across all

31 provinces. What began as scattered expressions of anger has grown into sustained, nationwide unrest, now running into its second week.

For Iranians, the spark was not sudden. It had been building for months.

Late last month, as the value of Iran’s currency slid further and prices jumped again, frustration spilled out of homes and markets, onto the streets. Scattered protests quickly gathered momentum. Within days, demonstrations were reported from more than 100 cities and towns, stretching from Tehran to provincial centres rarely seen in national unrest.

A familiar anger, this time louder

By the 12th night, the scale was hard to ignore. Crowds marched through main roads, chanting against the political leadership and, in some places, openly calling for its removal. Videos verified by international media showed scenes of defiance that Iranian state television largely chose not to show.

Economy at the centre

Iran’s deepening economic crisis was the proverbial last straw that broke the camel’s back this time around. The Iranian Rial has sharply weakened, eroding savings and making even daily essentials unaffordable for the middle class. Food prices have risen steeply, rents have climbed, and secure jobs are scarce.

Years of international sanctions against Iran have taken a toll, but many protesters say government mismanagement and corruption have made matters worse. For younger Iranians in particular, this is no longer just about prices or jobs. It is about dignity, accountability, and a demand to be heard even as the state tries to silence the dissent.

From hardship to politics

Economic pain alone does not explain the slogans now echoing across Iranian cities. While economic hardship lit the fuse, the protests quickly took on a political tone. What has unsettled the authorities is how quickly the protests turned political.

Chants calling for the downfall of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — something rarely heard so openly — have been reported from several cities. In others, demonstrators have voiced support for Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, who was ousted in the 1979 revolution.

Pahlavi, speaking from exile, has urged Iranians to stay on the streets and has framed the protests as a turning point. While he has no formal role inside the country, the chants reflect a deeper rejection of the current system rather than a clear alternative plan.

Internet blackout, tightening control

As crowds swelled, authorities moved to contain the unrest. In a major crackdown against dissenters and a move to contain the protests, internet access was sharply restricted, with monitoring group NetBlocks reporting a near-total nationwide blackout, according to the BBC.

Not new to gag orders and blackouts, for many Iranians, this was par for the course. While limiting online access slowed coordination, isolated protesters and reduced the flow of images to the outside world, it has also fuelled anger, reinforcing the feeling that the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei-led State is afraid of its own citizens.

The cost of this protest has been high. Security forces have come down heavily on protesters in several cities. Human rights groups report dozens of deaths and thousands of arrests, figures that Iranian authorities dispute.

Why this round feels different

Iran has seen waves of protest before, often sparked by fuel prices or political flashpoints. But this time, the unrest is broader and more sustained. The grievances cut across class and geography. The slogans are sharper. And the patience that once contained the public anger appears to be wearing thin.

For those marching at night, even under the threat of arrest or worse, the protests are about more than the economy. They are about dignity, voice and the sense that silence is no longer an option.

Whether the movement can force real change remains uncertain. But for now, Iran’s streets are speaking. Loudly.