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POPULAR UPRISING IN IRAN: GOVERNMENT MILITIAS CLASH WITH THE PEOPLE Ertuğrul Demirözcan January 02, 2026 IFJ-INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF JOURNALISTS APF AGENCY Protests in Iran: What We Know Iran was rocked this week by protests that began in Tehran and spread to other cities; at least six people died in clashes with security forces. Official media largely downplayed the protests, but numerous videos circulated on social media; many of which are difficult to verify, and some even appear to be manipulated. Here is a summary of what we know and what analysts think about what it all means. - What is happening? - Advertising Protests began in Tehran on Sunday; some shopkeepers went on strike over high prices and economic stagnation. The Iranian economy has been battered by years of heavy international sanctions imposed due to its nuclear program, rapidly rising inflation, and a collapsing currency. As of Tuesday, student protests erupted at universities in the capital Tehran and in the central cities of Isfahan and Yazd. Some merchants in the capital's bazaar also joined the protests. According to information compiled by AFP from official and local Iranian media, the demonstrations have so far affected 20 regions, mostly towns in the west of the country. According to videos released on Wednesday, which AFP confirmed, dozens of people protested in front of a government building in the southern city of Fasa, throwing objects and attempting to break down the door. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), based on verified videos and reports, states that slogans heard at the protests now include "Death to the Dictator" and "Woman, Life, Freedom." AFP could not immediately confirm the authenticity of these audio recordings. These same slogans were used in mass demonstrations following the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurd, in custody in September 2022 for allegedly violating the country's dress code for women. However, according to human rights activists, authorities suppressed the 2022-2023 protests using repressive tools such as mass arrests and executions. The system that has been in power since the 1979 revolution remains in place. “The protesters are making it very clear in their slogans: They don’t want reform,” said Gissou Nia, a US-Iranian human rights lawyer at the Atlantic Council. These developments are happening “at a time when the Islamic Republic is facing various pressures, not just internally but externally,” she noted. Regional rivals Israel and the United States bombed Iranian nuclear facilities and killed top military officials in a 12-day war in June. On Monday, US President Donald Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida that the US would “destroy” Tehran’s nuclear facilities if it rebuilt them. Trump said Friday that the United States was “ready and alert” to retaliate if Iran killed protesters. Iran has been weakened by major blows it has dealt to its regional allies, including Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. Some Iranians have long resented Tehran’s excessive financial or military support to regional proxy forces, such as the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, during the country’s domestic economic woes. Iran International, a television channel operating outside Iran and critical of the authorities, reported that recent protest slogans included phrases such as “Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, my life is for Iran.” Advertising – How did the authorities respond? – Clashes erupted between protesters and security forces in several cities across Iran on Thursday, with six people reportedly killed, the first deaths since the escalation of events. Schools, banks, and public institutions were closed on Wednesday due to a public holiday. Authorities said this was due to cold weather and energy conservation. However, authorities also acknowledged the grievances and announced a series of measures, including the replacement of the central bank governor. Reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday that he and his government would go to “hell” in a religious sense if they could not find solutions to the economic difficulties. "The government knows that merchants are the lifeblood, the beating heart of the Iranian economy, and therefore is obliged to take measures to address at least part of the major problems," French-Iranian sociologist Azadeh Kian told AFP. However, 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has yet to make a public statement on the matter. - How big? - Opponents abroad welcomed the new protests. Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran's deposed Shah, described 2026 as "the decisive moment for change" on Channel X, while the National Movement in Iran...