Widespread protests over Iran's faltering economy spread into rural provinces, with authorities reporting at least six people killed across three cities largely populated by the Lur ethnic group. The unrest — the biggest since the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests — has prompted arrests, reported weapons seizures and a possible tougher security response. Reformist officials have expressed willingness to negotiate but say their ability to address the crisis is constrained as the rial plunges. Independent monitors and regional media have been key sources amid limited state coverage.
At Least Six Reported Killed As Economic Protests Spread From Tehran To Rural Iran
Protesters march in downtown Tehran, Iran, Dec. 29, 2025. / Credit: Fars News Agency via AP
Demonstrations over Iran's deteriorating economy expanded Thursday into rural provinces, and authorities reported at least six people killed — the first fatalities among protesters and security forces during the unrest. The deaths, one on Wednesday and five on Thursday, were reported across three cities that are predominantly home to members of the Lur ethnic group.
The wave of unrest, the largest since the 2022 protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, has become centered on economic grievances but also includes chants and slogans critical of Iran's theocratic leadership. While the protests have eased in Tehran, they have spread to smaller cities and towns, where security forces and demonstrators have clashed.
Reported Fatalities And Local Clashes
Officials and local media reported fatalities in multiple locations. The semi-official Fars news agency said three people were killed in Azna, a city in Lorestan province about 185 miles southwest of Tehran. In Lordegan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Fars cited an anonymous official saying two people were killed during demonstrations. Human rights monitors also reported deaths there and identified some victims as demonstrators.
A separate demonstration on Wednesday night was reported to have resulted in the death of a 21-year-old volunteer with the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard's Basij force; state media reported the death but provided limited detail. Authorities said 13 Basij members and police officers were wounded in related clashes.
Arrests, Seizures And Government Response
Authorities said they arrested demonstrators in several cities. Local officials reported 20 arrests in Kouhdasht, and state television described a separate operation detaining seven people — including five it called monarchists and two it said had ties to Europe-based groups. State media also reported that security forces confiscated about 100 smuggled pistols.
Iran's civilian government under reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian has indicated a willingness to engage protesters in talks, but officials acknowledge limited ability to address the deep economic problems driving the unrest as the rial has sharply depreciated. The article referenced an exchange rate of roughly 1.4 million rials to the U.S. dollar, illustrating the scale of the currency crisis.
Context And Coverage
The current unrest follows earlier major waves of protest, including the nationwide demonstrations after Mahsa Amini's death in 2022 and local upheaval in the Lordegan area in 2019. Media coverage appeared uneven: some state outlets gave limited acknowledgment of the violence while semi-official and reform-minded outlets reported fatalities and arrests. Human rights groups and online videos have been important sources of information amid restricted reporting conditions and the prior detention of journalists.
"The people of Iran want freedom. They have suffered at the hands of the Ayatollahs for too long," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz wrote on X, adding that the U.S. stands with Iranians protesting economic distress and what he called a radical regime.
Verification of incidents remains difficult in fast-moving situations, and casualty figures may change as additional information becomes available.
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