Iran Economic Protests 2026: Rial Collapse Sparks Deadly Unrest
Iran economic protests 2026 intensify as the rial collapses by 56%. At least 7 dead as nationwide unrest targets soaring inflation and government corruption.
Iran's economy is in a freefall, and the streets are answering back. Protests over the soaring cost of living have entered their sixth day after the Iranian rial plunged to a record low of 1.42 million against the US dollar in late December 2025. What began as a strike by shopkeepers has mutated into a nationwide political movement, leaving a trail of casualties and arrests.
Currency Collapse: The 56% Plunge Driving Iran Economic Protests 2026
According to reports from Al Jazeera and Fars News Agency, food prices have soared by an average of 72% compared with last year. The rial's value has dropped by 56% in just six months. This economic strangulation has forced thousands of Iranians across 17 provinces to mobilize against the government.
At least 7 people have been killed and 44 people arrested since the demonstrations erupted. Clashes between security forces and protesters are intensifying in central and southwestern Iran.
A President Caught Between Reform and Repression
President Masoud Pezeshkian is attempting a delicate balancing act. While he has blamed "enemies" for the pressure, his administration has also signaled a willingness to listen to "legitimate demands." The appointment of Abdolnaser Hemmati as the new central bank governor and the removal of campus security managers at University of Tehran suggest an attempt to de-escalate without resorting to the brutal crackdowns of 2022.
However, international tension is mounting. US President Donald Trump warned on Truth Social that the US is "locked and loaded" if the regime kills peaceful protesters. This comes on the heels of the 12-day war in June 2025, leaving the region on a knife-edge.
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