Iranian security forces clashed with protesters on Tuesday in Tehran Grand BazaarThe historical and economic heart of the country, where protesters angered by the economic situation staged a sit-in before being dispersed with tear gas, according to witnesses. The demonstration led to the closure of numerous businesses and illustrates the persistence of a protest movement triggered by the collapse of the national currency.
The violence surrounding these protests has left at least 36 people dead and more than 1,200 arrested, according to activists based abroad. The situation worsened as the Iranian rial hit a new historic low, trading at around 1,46 million to the dollar on Tuesday. This plunge is fueling popular anger already exacerbated by years of international sanctions and the rising cost of living.
The reformist president Masoud Pezeshkian He acknowledged that the crisis could exceed the state's capacity. "We must not expect the government to manage this situation alone," he said in a televised address, while announcing the opening of an official investigation into deadly incidents in the western province of Ilam.
The recent decision by the Central Bank of Iran to drastically reduce subsidized exchange rates for importers—with the exception of medicine and wheat—suggests further price increases. According to state media, the prices of some basic necessities, such as cooking oil, have already doubled, while other goods are becoming scarce in stores as retailers fear selling at a loss.
In Ilam province, videos circulating online show security forces opening fire during protests, as well as a heavy-handed intervention at a hospital, drawing international criticism. Iranian authorities have claimed that some protesters were armed, an accusation disputed by human rights organizations.
The rising death toll is also drawing attention in Washington. US President Donald Trump warned that the United States could intervene if Iranian authorities "violently kill peaceful protesters." This threat was rejected by the Supreme Leader. Ali Khameneiwho asserted that the "rioters" must be suppressed, raising the risk of regional escalation as Iran goes through one of the most serious economic and social crises in its recent history.
