SRINAGAR: Iran faced mounting political and security pressure on Saturday as protests driven by soaring prices and a collapsing currency entered a second week, drawing sharp warnings from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and prompting interventionist rhetoric from United States President Donald Trump.
The demonstrations, sparked by deepening economic hardship and inflation running above 40 per cent, are the largest Iran has seen since nationwide protests in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, according to observers and human rights groups. While the current unrest has not reached the scale or intensity of those protests, it has spread widely and represents the most serious domestic challenge to the authorities in three years.
Speaking in a recorded address broadcast on state television, Khamenei acknowledged that economic grievances were legitimate but drew a sharp distinction between what he described as peaceful protesters and “rioters”. He said officials should engage with demonstrators over economic demands but added that “rioters must be put in their place”, accusing foreign powers, including the United States and Israel, of exploiting public anger to destabilise the Islamic Republic.
State-affiliated media reported further deaths on Saturday, taking the toll since the protests began to more than 10, according to rights groups. Iranian outlets said those killed included members of the security forces as well as demonstrators, with some incidents involving armed clashes in western towns. Rights groups have also reported a sharp rise in arrests, particularly in western provinces.
The unrest has unfolded against the backdrop of a rapidly deteriorating economy. The rial has lost nearly half its value against the dollar over the past year, while inflation has surged amid longstanding US and European sanctions linked to Iran’s nuclear programme. Iranian officials have also pointed to the financial strain of regional tensions, including last year’s brief but costly conflict with Israel.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has struck a more conciliatory tone, saying the government recognises the protests as rooted in economic pressure and promising dialogue with demonstrators. His office has said ministers have been instructed to listen to what it described as legitimate demands, and government spokespeople have spoken of setting up formal mechanisms for talks.
The protests have nevertheless drawn intense scrutiny abroad. On Friday, Trump said the United States would come to the aid of protesters if Iranian security forces used lethal force against them, declaring Washington was “locked and loaded”. He did not specify what action the US might take, but the comments came months after US and Israeli strikes targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and military leadership.
Iranian officials responded swiftly. Senior figures warned that any US interference would be met decisively and could destabilise the wider Middle East, with Tehran hinting at possible retaliation against American bases and forces in the region. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations wrote to the Security Council calling for condemnation of Trump’s remarks, saying Washington would bear responsibility for any escalation.
Protests have been reported in dozens of cities and towns, including Tehran, where students have joined traders and shopkeepers. Videos circulating on social media, which could not be independently verified, showed crowds chanting anti-government slogans, burning police vehicles and calling on others to join the demonstrations.
Iran’s leadership has weathered repeated waves of unrest over the past decade, often relying on mass arrests and heavy security measures. Analysts say, however, that the depth of the current economic crisis, combined with regional setbacks and renewed US pressure, may leave the authorities with less room for manoeuvre as they seek to contain the latest wave of dissent.
