Protests Spread Across Iran for Third Day After Currency Hits Record Low
📅 December 31, 2025
✍️ Editor: Sudhir Choudhary, The Vagabond News
Protests spread across Iran for a third consecutive day on Tuesday after the national currency, the rial, plunged to a record low against the U.S. dollar, intensifying public anger over soaring prices, economic mismanagement, and years of international sanctions.
Demonstrations were reported in multiple cities, including the capital Tehran, as well as Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Tabriz, according to state-adjacent media, videos circulating on social platforms, and regional human rights groups. Protesters chanted slogans criticizing economic conditions and accused the government of failing to protect ordinary citizens from inflation that has eroded purchasing power across the country.
Currency Collapse Triggers Anger
The unrest followed the rial’s sharp fall to a new low on the open market, breaching psychologically significant thresholds and further driving up the cost of imported goods. Iran’s economy has been under severe strain from U.S.-led sanctions, reduced oil revenues, currency controls, and persistent capital flight.
Shopkeepers in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar reportedly closed stalls in protest, a symbolic act that has historically signaled deep economic distress. Videos showed crowds gathering near commercial districts while security forces maintained a visible presence.
“This is not just about the exchange rate,” said an Iranian economist based outside the country. “The currency crash is a trigger, but the underlying causes are structural—sanctions, isolation, and weak economic governance.”
Security Response and Arrests
Iranian authorities deployed riot police and plainclothes security units in several locations. State media acknowledged “scattered gatherings” but described them as limited and under control. Human rights organizations, however, said dozens of people were detained over the past three days, with reports of force used to disperse crowds in some cities.
Internet access was reportedly disrupted in parts of the country, a measure authorities have used in the past during periods of unrest to curb the spread of protest footage.
Political Pressure on Tehran
The protests present a renewed challenge for President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose administration has promised economic relief and engagement abroad but faces entrenched obstacles at home and continued tensions with the West.
Iranian officials blamed “external pressure and psychological warfare” for the currency’s collapse, pointing to sanctions and regional instability. Critics inside the country argue that domestic policy failures and corruption have compounded the crisis.
A Familiar Pattern of Unrest
Iran has seen repeated waves of protests in recent years, often sparked by economic shocks such as fuel price hikes, subsidy cuts, or currency swings. While past demonstrations have sometimes subsided after heavy security responses, analysts say public frustration has deepened as living standards continue to decline.
“The frequency of protests is increasing,” said a Middle East analyst. “Each episode leaves behind more resentment, even if the demonstrations are temporarily suppressed.”
What Comes Next
It remains unclear whether the current protests will gain further momentum or be contained by security forces. Much may depend on whether the rial stabilizes and whether authorities announce emergency measures to curb inflation or ease access to foreign currency.
For many Iranians, however, confidence in quick fixes is low.
“People feel trapped,” said one Tehran resident, speaking anonymously. “Prices go up every week, salaries don’t change, and no one believes the situation will improve soon.”
Source: Reporting based on accounts from Iranian state media, human rights groups, and international coverage including Reuters and The Associated Press.
Tags: Iran Protests, Iranian Rial, Inflation, Middle East Unrest, Economy, Sanctions
News by The Vagabond News
