Iranian Protests Erupt as Currency Collapse Sparks Unrest

Thu Jan 01 2026 03:38:19 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Protests in Iran escalate into clashes as demonstrators attempt to breach government buildings due to a severe currency collapse, prompting government responses.

Tensions rise in Iran as protesters in the city of Fasa clash with security forces, trying to break into a government building amid a currency crisis. Injuries have been reported, and officials have declared a bank holiday in an effort to control the unrest. The protests are spreading across the country, echoing past demonstrations calling for governmental change.

Protesters in Iran have tried to break into a local government building in the southern province of Fars, on a fourth day of demonstrations sparked by a currency collapse.

Officials said three police officers were injured and four people arrested in the city of Fasa.

Confrontations were also reported in the western provinces of Hamedan and Lorestan.

The authorities in the capital, Tehran, had declared Wednesday a bank holiday - in an apparent effort to quell the unrest.

In video that emerged on social media and was verified, a crowd was filmed breaking the gate of the governor's office in Fasa. Security forces responded with gunfire and tear gas as protesters clashed with police, which led to fears of further instability.

Across the nation, schools, universities, and public institutions closed due to the last-minute holiday, which many saw as a move to contain the protests. Demonstrations began on a Sunday, spurred by shopkeepers’ anger over the sharp decline of the Iranian currency against the US dollar.

By Tuesday, student participation had surged, spreading the protests to numerous cities with chants against the clerical regime. This unrest is the most widespread since the 2022 protests triggered by Mahsa Amini's death while in custody.

To mitigate escalation, security measures have intensified in Tehran. President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that his government will address the protesters' "legitimate demands," while the prosecutor general warned of a "decisive response" to any attempts at creating instability.