Iran has seen a widening wave of street protests across multiple cities, with at least 36 people reported dead as security forces confront demonstrators demanding political change. Rights groups tracking the unrest say the toll has risen amid clashes, mass arrests and the use of force by authorities, as the state seeks to reassert control in the face of persistent dissent.Demonstrations have been reported in major urban centres including Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz and Tabriz, according to activists and diaspora-based monitoring organisations. Protesters have gathered in public squares, university campuses and neighbourhood streets, chanting slogans against clerical rule and calling for accountability, civil liberties and economic relief. Videos circulated on social media, verified by independent analysts, show crowds confronting riot police, burning barricades and attempting to block traffic arteries before being dispersed.
The reported death toll, cited by right-wing exile groups that compile casualty figures from local networks, could not be independently confirmed, but aligns with accounts from human rights organisations documenting lethal force during crowd control operations. Hospitals in several cities have been placed under heightened security, with families saying they faced pressure not to speak publicly about injuries or fatalities. Officials have not released comprehensive casualty data, instead accusing “foreign-backed agitators” of fuelling unrest and insisting that security forces are acting within the law.
The protests reflect a convergence of long-standing grievances that have flared periodically over the past decade. Economic hardship remains acute, driven by inflation, currency weakness and joblessness, while political frustrations persist over restrictions on expression, the role of unelected institutions and the handling of social freedoms. Analysts say the current mobilisation shows a broader geographic spread than some earlier episodes, indicating that discontent is not confined to any single demographic or region.
Security forces have responded with a familiar mix of tactics, including baton charges, tear gas, water cannon and the deployment of plainclothes units. Internet disruptions have been reported intermittently, limiting access to messaging platforms and slowing the circulation of images from protest sites. State television has broadcast footage of calm streets and interviews with officials blaming unrest on external interference, while warning that participation in unauthorised gatherings could lead to severe penalties.
Political leaders have struck a defiant tone. Senior officials have reiterated support for the security apparatus and pledged to prosecute those accused of organising demonstrations. At the same time, some figures within the establishment have acknowledged public anger over economic management, urging patience while rejecting calls for systemic change. There has been no indication of concessions on core political demands raised by protesters.
International reaction has been cautious but growing. Several Western governments have expressed concern over reports of deaths and arrests, calling for restraint and respect for the right to peaceful assembly. Regional actors have largely refrained from public comment, reflecting the sensitivity of internal unrest in a strategically significant state. Diplomats say the situation is being closely monitored, particularly given its potential implications for regional stability and ongoing diplomatic engagements.
Human rights advocates argue that the scale and persistence of the demonstrations point to deeper structural challenges. They note that cycles of protest and repression have failed to resolve underlying issues, instead hardening mistrust between the state and segments of society. Academic studies on protest movements in Iran suggest that decentralised organisation and the participation of students, workers and women have made crackdowns less effective in fully extinguishing dissent, even as they raise the human cost.