Arbeit Zukunft | January 5, 2026 | Translated for the Red Phoenix by Misha G.–

For days, people in Iran have been taking to the streets. Starting in Tehran, the protests have now spread throughout the country and mark the largest protest movement in Iran in recent years since the “Women, Life, Freedom” (Persian: zan, zendegi, azadi) protest movement in 2022.

Last Sunday (Jan 4) in Tehran, triggered by the sudden collapse of exchange rates, bazaar traders spontaneously took to the streets to protest price increases, inflation and the rising cost of living. “Don’t be afraid, we are all in this together!” they shouted, urging bystanders to join the protests. Now, people are taking to the streets daily in over 13 provinces and at least 22 cities, including not only traders but also other segments of the population. It’s not just students who have repeatedly called for demonstrations. Workers from oil refineries and factories in southern Iran, in particular, are participating in the protests through strikes, fighting against price increases and the privatization of profits.

The economic situation has long been a burden on the people of Iran; Western sanctions are hitting workers particularly hard, and experts are calling it the worst economic crisis in Iranian history. Last month alone, the rial lost almost 20 percent of its value, plummeting to a new record low on Sunday. One US dollar is now worth over 1,420,000 rials.

The head of the Iranian central bank subsequently resigned. What began as a protest against rising prices quickly transformed into a political protest.

“We don’t want an Islamic Republic!”, “Down with the dictator!” and “The mullahs must go!” are shouted by people in various cities.

Students at the University of Tehran chanted “Woman, Life, Freedom” at a demonstration, thus showing their connection to the women’s movement and the large protests following the assassination of Kurdish woman Jina Amini three years earlier. At the same time, calls were also made for the return of the monarchy, which ruled until the Islamic Revolution 47 years prior and served as a puppet of Western imperialism, showing how reactionary forces are attempting to co-opt the movement.

The Iranian leadership in Tehran is responding to the protests with increasing violence. Mass protests erupted at the funeral of Khodadad Shirvani, who was shot dead by regime forces during the protests. An attack on the police headquarters in Azna, Lorestan province, also left three people dead and 17 injured. Furthermore, police in Nihayend opened fire directly on demonstrators. There have been many more incidents of violence; the human rights organization HENGAW reported at least 15 arrests on Thursday, and the aid organization Hawar Help reported eight deaths since the protests began.

The Iranian leadership is attempting to quell the protests and downplay them as purely economic in nature. According to media reports, President Pezeshkian met with representatives of trade unions and business leaders. Pezeshkian repeatedly emphasized his desire to engage in dialogue with the protesters and resolve their problems. At the same time, he admitted that he could do little to counter the devaluation of the rial. The leadership in Tehran is under pressure. Western sanctions are exacerbating the economic situation, including restrictions on oil and gas trade, and the consequences of the war with Israel are still being felt.

On Friday, US President Trump threatened Iran with intervention should it use force against the protesters. “We are standing by, ready to go,” he wrote on TruthSocial (While ICE is murdering innocent people – editor). In a message on the X platform, the Israeli foreign intelligence agency Mossad addressed the protests: “Let’s take to the streets together.” But neither the US nor Israel is concerned with improving the situation for Iranians: Iran’s history proves that the US stands for the opposite. Not for the democratic process of forming the will and self-determination of peoples, but for their brutal, terrorist subjugation and plunder. The best example is the Shah of Iran. In light of the open US attack on Iran last year and the current aggression against Venezuela, it is clear that the US is unlikely to hesitate to bring about a violent regime change in Iran as well and could use the current protests as a pretext. Germany, too, would likely welcome such an intervention – after all, Chancellor Friedrich Merz described Israel’s last US-backed attack on Iran as “dirty work that Israel is doing for all of us.” We must resolutely oppose any interference by imperialist powers in Iran!

We support the Iranian people in their struggle for democracy and against tyranny!

For self-determination and against the interference of foreign powers!

Categories: International, Iran

Tags: ICMLPO