Protesters expressing frustration over Iran’s struggling economy staged a sit-in at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on Tuesday, witnesses reported. Security forces later used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators as the market closed down. This protest at the Grand Bazaar, a long-standing hub of Iran’s economic and political activities, indicates that the ongoing demonstrations are likely to persist, especially as the country’s currency, the rial, hit a record low on Tuesday.
According to rights groups, at least 25 individuals have lost their lives in Iran amid the initial nine days of protests, which initially began at the bazaar due to the sharp decline in the currency value and surging inflation. The death toll, as per Hengaw, a Kurdish Iranian rights organization, stands at 25, including four minors, with over 1,000 arrests made. Another network of activists, HRANA, reported that 35 people, including two law enforcement members, have been killed, alongside 1,203 arrests, as of Tuesday.
While the exact figures remain unverified, the protests have expanded beyond economic grievances to encompass broader frustrations, with some participants directing chants against the country’s clerical leadership. The situation is expected to worsen following the significant reduction in subsidized exchange rates for dollars by Iran’s Central Bank, likely leading to price increases that will further strain consumers already grappling with years of economic sanctions.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, acknowledging the escalating crisis, emphasized that the government alone cannot address all the challenges. International pressure persists on Iran, with U.S. President Donald Trump warning of intervention in support of Iranian protesters if met with violence from security forces, prompting a defiant response from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In the Grand Bazaar, demonstrators staged a sit-in, leading to the closure of nearby shops while facing off against security forces. Tear gas was deployed to disperse the protesters, although state-run media did not immediately acknowledge the incident. The unrest comes in the aftermath of recent strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites by Israel and the U.S., further complicating the country’s internal tensions.
Authorities in Iran have refrained from disclosing the death toll among protesters but have confirmed casualties among security personnel. Law enforcement has been instructed to crack down on rioters, with the police chief vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice. Protests have now spread to multiple provinces within Iran, encompassing a wide range of demands beyond economic reforms.
Pezeshkian has advocated for dialogue and promised reforms to stabilize the economy, including a subsidy overhaul and measures to enhance purchasing power for essential goods. Amid the ongoing crisis, the government has announced plans for subsidy reforms and a change in leadership at the central bank, with the rial continuing its decline in value since the protests began.