Several Killed as Economic Protests Spread Across Iran

Several people have been killed in Iran as protests driven by a severe economic crisis spread from a merchants’ strike in Tehran to cities nationwide. Clashes between protesters and security forces have led to civilian deaths, while a Basij paramilitary member has also been killed, raising fears of a renewed crackdown. The unrest, the largest since the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests, has evolved from economic grievances into broader calls for political change despite government warnings of a firm response.

Several people have reportedly been killed in Iran as social unrest continues to intensify across the country, according to reports released on Thursday. The unrest comes amid a deepening economic crisis that has placed significant strain on the livelihoods of ordinary Iranians.
The protests began with a merchants’ strike in Tehran, sparked by worsening economic conditions, and have since spread to multiple cities nationwide. Demonstrations have grown in size and intensity as frustration mounts over soaring inflation, the collapse of the national currency, and years of economic hardship.
The semi-official Iranian news agency Fars reported, citing what it described as “a source with knowledge,” that at least two civilians were killed during clashes on Thursday morning in the western city of Lordegan. According to the report, the deaths occurred during confrontations between armed protesters and security forces.
A Kurdish human rights group, Hengaw, also confirmed that fatalities had taken place in the city. The organization said security forces opened fire on demonstrators, killing and injuring several protesters. Hengaw further reported that another protester was shot dead on Wednesday in Iran’s central Isfahan province, underscoring the growing toll of the unrest.
At the same time, state-run IRNA news agency reported the death of a volunteer member of the Basij paramilitary force on Wednesday night in Kuhdasht, located in western Iran. This marked the first reported death among Iran’s security forces since the protests began on Sunday.
The Basij force is closely aligned with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and operates under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which functions parallel to Iran’s regular armed forces and answers directly to the Supreme Leader.
The Student News Network, which is believed to be close to the Basij, quoted a deputy governor of Lorestan province as saying the Basij volunteer was “martyred at the hands of rioters during protests.” The same source said at least 13 Basij members and police officers were injured in the clashes, according to statements attributed to Saeed Pourali.
However, many social media users inside Iran have challenged the official version of events, questioning the government’s account and sharing alternative narratives and footage online, despite restrictions and monitoring.
The current wave of demonstrations is being described as the largest since the Women, Life, Freedom movement that erupted after the death of Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022. That movement was violently suppressed by authorities, with hundreds killed and thousands arrested or jailed.
There are growing fears that the killing of the 21-year-old Basij volunteer could be used as justification for a renewed and harsher crackdown by Iran’s theocratic leadership. Observers warn that the unrest now represents the most serious challenge to the Islamic Republic since the Women, Life, Freedom protests.
Protests have spread rapidly across Iran in recent days. What began as a strike by merchants in Tehran on December 28 has evolved into nationwide demonstrations fueled by anger over the country’s severe economic crisis. Iran’s currency has fallen to an all-time low, while inflation climbed above 40 percent in December, eroding purchasing power and deepening poverty.
Iran’s economy has struggled for years under the weight of Western sanctions linked to the country’s nuclear program, compounding domestic mismanagement and structural weaknesses.
As the unrest has expanded, economic grievances have increasingly merged with broader political demands. Students and other groups have joined demonstrations in cities across the country, calling for reforms and systemic change.
In response, President Masoud Pezeshkian has taken limited steps to address public anger, including replacing the central bank chief and instructing the interior minister to listen to protesters’ “legitimate demands.” Speaking during a televised event, Pezeshkian acknowledged the severity of the crisis, saying, “From an Islamic perspective, if we do not resolve the issue of people’s livelihoods, we will end up in hell.”
Despite these remarks, authorities have also issued warnings to demonstrators, accusing them of exploiting the situation and vowing a “firm” response to continued unrest, raising concerns about the potential for further violence and repression.