At Least 36 Killed as Protests Sweep Across Iran, Rights Groups Report

At least 36 people have been killed in a wave of nationwide protests that have swept across Iran over the past 10 days, according to a foreign-based human rights organisation. The unrest, driven largely by economic hardship and rising public anger, has spread rapidly across much of the country and drawn sharp reactions from Iranian authorities and the international community.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that of the 36 confirmed deaths, 34 were protesters while two were individuals affiliated with Iran’s security forces. Iranian authorities have not released an official civilian death toll, though they have acknowledged that three members of the security services have been killed during the disturbances. BBC Persian has independently verified the identities and deaths of at least 20 people so far.

HRANA also disclosed that more than 60 protesters have been injured and at least 2,076 people arrested since demonstrations began. According to the group, the protests have reached 27 of Iran’s 31 provinces, making them one of the most geographically widespread waves of unrest in recent years.

The demonstrations erupted on 28 December in Tehran after shopkeepers took to the streets to protest a sudden and sharp fall in the value of the Iranian rial against the US dollar. Iran’s currency has hit historic lows over the past year, while inflation has surged to around 40 percent. The economic crisis has been exacerbated by international sanctions linked to Iran’s nuclear programme, as well as longstanding issues of mismanagement and corruption, according to analysts.

What began as protests by traders and market workers quickly gained momentum when university students and young people joined the demonstrations. Slogans initially focused on rising prices and declining living standards soon evolved into direct criticism of Iran’s clerical leadership.

Footage obtained by BBC Persian from Tehran’s Grand Bazaar shows large crowds chanting “Death to the dictator,” a slogan widely understood as a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Videos show protesters fleeing as riot police fired tear gas into the covered market streets, while demonstrators shouted insults at security forces. Footage filmed from nearby rooftops captured scenes of chaos as clouds of tear gas filled the area and crowds scattered.

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency downplayed the unrest, describing the gatherings as “sporadic” protests over price increases and stating that police dispersed demonstrators into surrounding streets and alleys.

Protests have also been reported at several other locations across Tehran, including the Yaft Abad market, the Caterpillar shopping mall, and the Azari junction. Beyond the capital, unrest has intensified in western provinces, particularly Ilam, where security forces have carried out a heavy crackdown.

On Tuesday evening, Iranian media reported that a police officer was shot dead in Malekshahi County in Ilam province, blaming what they described as “rioters.” Earlier footage from the area appeared to show a bank set ablaze, with groups of men celebrating beside burning furniture, tyres, and scattered documents.

Verified videos from the town of Abdanan in Ilam province showed large crowds marching through the streets. In one clip, police officers standing on a rooftop were seen waving at protesters who were calling for their support. Another video showed demonstrators tearing open bags of rice and throwing the contents into the air, symbolising anger over food prices and economic hardship.

Tensions escalated further after video footage emerged showing security forces storming the Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ilam, where activists said wounded protesters had sought refuge. Amnesty International reported that Revolutionary Guards and special police units fired tear gas into the hospital grounds, smashed glass doors to gain entry, and beat those inside, including medical staff. The rights group warned that the operation violated international law and highlighted the lengths to which Iranian authorities were willing to go to crush dissent.

Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has ordered the interior ministry to establish a special delegation to investigate the unrest in Ilam. Meanwhile, judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei stated that authorities would listen to citizens with “legitimate concerns” about their livelihoods but would show no tolerance toward what he described as rioters.

International concern has continued to grow. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said he was deeply saddened by reports of deaths and injuries and stressed the need to prevent further loss of life. “All individuals must be allowed to protest peacefully and express their grievances,” his spokesperson said.

The protests mark the most significant unrest since the 2022 uprising triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. That crackdown left more than 550 people dead and about 20,000 detained, according to human rights organisations. Many observers fear that unless tensions ease, Iran may once again face a prolonged and violent confrontation between citizens and the state.