Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Jan 7: Iran is witnessing a surge of widespread protests as mounting economic pressures and overlapping social crises spark intense public anger, with confrontations between demonstrators and security forces reportedly claiming at least 27 lives in recent days.
One of the most striking scenes unfolded Tuesday night in Abdanan, a city in Ilam province, where thousands of residents poured into the streets despite a heavy security presence. Videos widely shared on social media showed men, women, children, and elderly citizens marching together, chanting slogans as helicopters circled overhead. Protesters appeared to far outnumber the security forces deployed to contain the demonstrations.
Norway-based rights organisation Iran Human Rights (IHR) said at least 27 protesters have been killed so far, including five minors under the age of 18. Iranian authorities have confirmed fatalities among security personnel as well, reporting that a police officer was shot dead during the unrest. State-linked media acknowledged that at least three civilians were killed, while also confirming the death of a policeman during armed clashes that reportedly erupted after funeral processions for earlier victims.
The protests, which initially began on December 28 with shopkeepers closing their businesses in protest, have since spread across neighbourhoods and commercial hubs. In Tehran, demonstrations were reported in major markets such as Yaftabad, highlighting growing frustration over rising living costs, unemployment, and perceptions that foreign policy priorities are outweighing domestic concerns.
In Ilam city, the provincial capital, disturbing footage showed security forces entering Imam Khomeini Hospital, allegedly to identify and detain injured protesters. Amnesty International condemned the move, calling it a violation of international law and warning that it reflects the extreme measures authorities are willing to take to suppress dissent.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the unrest publicly for the first time this week, issuing a stern message and declaring that those he labeled as rioters must be “put in their place,” a statement that has further heightened tensions.
As protests intensified, Iran’s exiled former crown prince Reza Pahlavi issued his first direct appeal to the public during the current crisis. In a recorded message, he called on Iranians to chant in unison at exactly 8 pm on Thursday and Friday, January 8 and 9, whether in public spaces or from their homes, saying future actions would depend on the public response.
Observers say the current wave of unrest represents the most serious challenge to the Islamic Republic since the nationwide protests of 2022–2023, which erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody for allegedly violating Iran’s strict dress code laws. With tensions escalating and casualties mounting, the situation across Iran remains volatile and uncertain.