No specific name.

Teheran and other cities.

Since December 2025 to January 2026.

The antiregime protests were initially triggered by the severe economic crisis, with the value Iranian rial having lost its value severely in 2025. Inflation reached almost 50%, and many people would no longer keep up with the rising cost of living. This led to merchant strikes and closures of shops in Tehran’s Grand bazaar, and quickly spread into street protests.The economic crisis was linked to numerous international sanctions against Iran, especially those linked to its nuclear program, which limited the country’s  trade and investment, and contributed to its currency and shortages of goods. Although the initial cause of the protests were largely economic, the protesters then began to call for the end to the Islamic Regime and theocratic government and an re-institution of monarchy and/or democracy and religious freedom in the country.

The protest were intended to bring the end to the theocratic regime and the reinstallation of monarchy or democracy in the country’ government system. And improvement of the country’s economy, betterment of international policies with the West, and the removal of international sanctions.

The anti-regime protests were largely physical protests that occurred on streets and in neighbourhoods around the country. Social media was also used in order to mobilise support and sympathy of other local Iranians and other onlookers around the globe. Demonstrations were widespread and protestors openly vocalised anti-government slogans.

The core narrative of the anti-regime protests in Iran was to bring attention and change to the economic mismanagement of the Iranian government, and the repression of the people by the Islamic regime. The protestors wanted to ensure economic, political, social and religious freedom were implemented by bringing an end to the regime.

The key messages/demands of the anti-regime protests are:

• Political regime change.
• Religious freedom.
• Recognition of women’s rights and social freedom.
• Economic improvement and end to state corruption.
• Solidarity and Anti-repression

The anti-regime protests were mostly youth-led and aimed at changing the governmental, political, and religious landscape of Iran, in order that the young generation can enjoy social and religious freedom.

Non-regime controlled outlets, (e,g, Iran Intentional, Indy Persia), promoted a positive view of the movement. There was also great support for the protests from the Iranian diaspora, and international onlookers, due to the videos of the protests being posted on social media and other platforms.

The movement was largely promoted by the people of Iran. Some mainstream media outlets also helped increase awareness of the protests and help gain support from it.

The protestors were labelled ‘harmful individuals and rioters’ by the then-supreme leader of Iran. Opposition media reported some clashes between protesters and security forces, while Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, Iran’s judiciary chief, stated that protesters would face severe punishment.

The Islamic regime and government implemented a nation-wide internet blackout that lasted nearly 2 weeks, in which live ammunition was reportedly used on protestors. The Iranian government admits to about 3000 dead, but certain human rights organizations and some health care officials have stated that the numbers killed during the black-out period could be as high as thirty thousand.