Iran Rocked by Biggest Protests in Years: Economic Anger Fuels Challenge to Regime
World
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Moneycontrol•10-01-2026, 12:26
Iran Rocked by Biggest Protests in Years: Economic Anger Fuels Challenge to Regime
- •Nationwide protests have gripped Iran for nearly two weeks, spreading across over 100 cities and posing the most serious challenge to the Islamic Republic in years.
- •Initially sparked by a sudden spike in prices of basic goods like cooking oil and chicken after the central bank ended a subsidized dollar rate, the unrest quickly escalated into a direct challenge to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- •The protests are the largest wave of unrest since the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" demonstrations, with crowds chanting slogans directly targeting Khamenei and rights groups reporting dozens killed and thousands arrested.
- •The involvement of bazaar merchants, historically regime allies, in the protests signals a significant warning for the government, reflecting deeper exhaustion among Iranians due to sanctions, corruption, and declining living standards.
- •While President Masoud Pezeshkian's powers are limited, the Revolutionary Guards have declared preserving the system their "red line," indicating a potential sustained crackdown, as the opposition remains fragmented.
Why It Matters: Iran faces its most significant challenge in years as economic anger fuels widespread protests against the regime.
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