Massive Protests Erupt Across Iran Challenging Government

Massive Protests in Iran

In recent days, anti-government protests have erupted in at least 17 of Iran's 31 provinces, marking the largest challenge to the clerical regime since the beginning of 2022. An analysis conducted by BBC Verify and BBC Persian suggests that the actual number of protests is likely much higher, with reports of protest actions in an additional 11 provinces.

The wave of protests began on December 28 in the capital, Tehran, following a sharp devaluation of the national currency against the US dollar and other major currencies. Verified images from the past 10 days show evidence of anti-government demonstrations in over 50 cities across the country, including areas previously considered extremely loyal to the state.

More than 100 geolocated and verified videos illustrate the scale of the unrest, highlighting that people are taking to the streets in many of Iran's major cities. This represents the greatest challenge to the current regime since the "Women, Life, Freedom" protests of 2022. Affected cities include Qom and Mashhad, known for their highly loyal populations to the Islamic Republic.

Prof. Sina Azodi, director of the Middle Eastern Studies Program at George Washington University, stated that the unrest in these cities is "very significant" and demonstrates that "the government's support base is also facing economic difficulties." Authorities have typically used violence to suppress protests, and during the 2022 unrest, over 550 deaths were reported according to human rights organizations.

Although the initial police response appeared more tempered, verified images indicated an escalation in the use of force on Saturday, coinciding with the first public response from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who stated that "protesters must be put in their place."

Authorities have also promised to listen to critics who have legitimate concerns about living conditions and social and economic welfare. However, they warned that they would act firmly against those trying to exploit the situation.

A human rights group confirmed that at least 35 people have been killed during the unrest, including two individuals linked to security forces. In a violent incident in the city of Malekshahi, multiple deaths were recorded due to gunfire. The President of Iran has ordered an investigation into this incident. Experts warn that the heavy-handed response from security forces could exacerbate challenges for the government.

Although the protests have increased in scale, most experts believe they do not yet pose an existential threat to the state. For now, the security forces remain loyal and are executing the orders given.