Violent confrontations between anti-government demonstrators and security forces were reported in several parts of Iran on Wednesday, as protests linked to the country’s deepening economic crisis entered their eleventh consecutive day.
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that two police officers were shot and killed in the south-western town of Lordegan during clashes involving armed individuals. Social media footage from various cities showed tense standoffs, with sounds of gunfire, as security forces attempted to disperse crowds.
Videos circulating online depicted police and security units using firearms and tear gas against protesters, while some demonstrators responded by throwing stones. The unrest has expanded rapidly across the country. According to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA), demonstrations have taken place in 111 cities and towns across all 31 provinces.
HRANA estimates that at least 34 protesters and four members of the security forces have been killed so far, with around 2,200 arrests reported. BBC Persian has independently verified the deaths of 21 individuals, while Iranian authorities have officially confirmed the deaths of five security personnel.
The protests began on 28 December in Tehran, when shopkeepers rallied against a sharp decline in the value of the Iranian rial. Over the past year, the currency has fallen to record lows, while inflation has surged to around 40%, driven by international sanctions linked to Iran’s nuclear programme as well as longstanding issues of economic mismanagement and corruption.
University students soon joined the demonstrations, which then spread nationwide. Protesters have frequently been heard chanting slogans against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and, in some cases, expressing support for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s former shah.
On Wednesday, verified footage showed crowds protesting in Qazvin, northwest of Tehran, chanting slogans such as “Death to the dictator” and “Long live the shah.” In the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, demonstrators called on police to support them before security forces moved in to break up the gathering.
Clashes were also reported in Mashhad, a major religious city in the northeast, where protesters forced security forces to retreat. Other videos showed chants in support of the former Pahlavi dynasty, which was overthrown during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
In Abadan, near the Iraqi border, large crowds gathered in the afternoon, chanting slogans critical of Iran’s clerical leadership. Additional footage appeared to show security forces firing shots as protesters advanced, throwing stones and other objects. Later in the evening, tear gas was used to disperse protesters in the western city of Aligudarz.
Fars confirmed that the two police officers killed in Lordegan were Hadi Azarsalim and Moslem Mahdavinasab, alleging they were shot by armed individuals described as “rioters.” Independent verification of the incident remains difficult due to severe restrictions on international media operating inside Iran. Lordegan has previously seen deadly clashes, with two protesters reported killed there the previous week.
Following a cabinet meeting, Vice-President for Executive Affairs Mohammad Jafar Qaempanah said President Masoud Pezeshkian had instructed security forces not to take action against peaceful demonstrators. He stressed the need to distinguish between protesters and those engaging in violent acts against police or military facilities.
State media also announced that the government had begun paying a new monthly allowance, equivalent to about seven dollars, to 71 million citizens in an effort to ease the impact of rising living costs. At the same time, judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei warned that those involved in violent unrest would face swift prosecution.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said over the weekend that authorities should engage in dialogue with protesters but insisted that violent actors must be dealt with firmly. His remarks followed warnings from former US President Donald Trump, who said Washington would intervene if peaceful protesters were killed.
Analysts say the protests reflect deep public frustration. Sanam Vakil of Chatham House told the BBC that the demonstrations have taken on a political dimension, driven by widespread anger over declining living standards and lack of future prospects. Another analyst, Sadegh Zibakalam of the University of Tehran, suggested that fears of international repercussions may be making authorities more cautious in their response.
The current unrest is the most extensive since nationwide protests in 2022, which erupted after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. Human rights groups say more than 550 people were killed and around 20,000 detained during the crackdown that followed.
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