05.01.2026 01:01
The protests that began on December 28 in Tehran's Grand Bazaar with shopkeepers closing their shutters have spread to 26 provinces on the eighth day, turning into the largest wave of protests in recent years. The number of people who lost their lives in the demonstrations has risen to 20, a total of 51 people were injured, and at least 990 people have been detained.
As protests ignited by a record rise in exchange rates and a deepening economic crisis in Iran enter their 8th day, painful news continues to emerge from the country. While human rights organizations report an increase in casualties in demonstrations that have turned the streets into a battlefield, the Tehran administration has yet to announce an official toll.
STREETS REMAIN UNRESTED: 222 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN 26 PROVINCES
According to the latest report published by the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the public has taken to the streets in 26 of Iran's 31 provinces. The protests initiated by the merchants of the historic Grand Bazaar in the capital Tehran quickly spread to 222 different locations. In the events that have lasted for 8 days, it has been reported that a total of 20 people, including a security officer, have lost their lives.
INTERVENTION WITH PLASTIC BULLETS: INJURY COUNT RISES
One of the most striking details of the report was the severity of the intervention. It was noted that at least 51 people were injured in the protests, with a significant portion of the injuries attributed to the pellets and plastic bullets used by security forces. The number of those detained has exceeded 990, and this figure is emphasized to be increasing every hour.
PEZEŞKİYAN'S UNCONVENTIONAL STANCE
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian displayed a stance acknowledging the public's dissatisfaction, contrary to the previous rhetoric of "foreign actors." Accepting responsibility for the economic crisis, Pezeshkian called on government officials to "stop blaming external actors like the U.S. for our mistakes."
However, despite this call for restraint, violence could not be curtailed in regions such as Lorestan, Azna, and Lordegan.
During the protests in the Kuhdasht district of Lorestan province, a 21-year-old member of the Basij was killed on December 31, 2025, and 13 police officers were injured.
In the protests in the Lordegan district of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, it was reported that 2 people were killed on January 1.
In the city of Azna in Lorestan province, it was also reported that 3 people lost their lives in an attack on a police station during protests on January 1.
TRUMP'S WARNING TO IRAN: THE U.S. WILL COME TO HELP
The internal turmoil in Iran has also resonated on the international stage. U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to the Tehran administration in a statement made via social media. Trump sent a clear message by stating that if Iran uses violence against peaceful protesters, "the U.S. will come to their aid."