Iran is once again at the center of regional and international attention as a sharp rise in the cost of living triggers a new wave of nationwide protests, underscoring deep economic and political strains within the country. For audiences across the Middle East and the European Union, the unfolding events offer a stark illustration of how currency instability and inflation can rapidly translate into social unrest, reshaping domestic politics and drawing global scrutiny.
Iran Inflation Crisis Fuels Protests Across Mashhad, Tehran, and Isfahan
Over the past week, protests have spread to dozens of Iranian cities, including Mashhad, Tehran, Isfahan, and western provincial centers, following a rapid escalation in prices for basic goods and a steep depreciation of the Iranian rial. According to interviews published by Middle East Eye, demonstrators described an economy that has become unpredictable and unmanageable for ordinary households, with prices changing within days or even hours. One protester from Mashhad explained that the cost of everyday items had multiplied in a matter of days, making financial planning impossible, while a Tehran resident described postponing the purchase of cooking oil only to find its price more than doubled shortly afterward. What initially began as labor strikes over rising prices has evolved into a broader expression of dissatisfaction with Iran’s political leadership, marking the most serious unrest since the Women, Life, Freedom movement of 2022–23. Rights groups monitoring the situation have reported violent clashes between protesters and security forces, with fatalities estimated between 25 and 38 people, including minors, and thousands reportedly detained, though Iranian authorities have not released an official death toll for protesters.