The sharp fall of the Iranian rial on Sunday, plunging to 1.42m against the US dollar and losing more than 56% of its value in six months, marked a tipping point for an economy and population already under severe strain.
The currency collapse has driven inflation sharply higher, with food prices averaging 72% more than a year ago. Iran’s situation is compounded by some of the harshest international sanctions, limiting access to frozen overseas funds and foreign currency and increasing reliance on imports.
The current demonstrations are the largest since 2022, when nationwide protests erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody and were eventually crushed by force. Online platforms have since been flooded with footage of protesters chanting anti-government slogans, confronting security forces, and fleeing teargas, including scenes of solitary acts of defiance in Tehran.
What began as protests over worsening living conditions has expanded into broader opposition to governance, with women’s rights activists, students, and shopkeepers openly chanting slogans such as “death to the dictator” and “woman, life, freedom,” despite the risk of imprisonment.
Demonstrations in Tehran
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER: If you would like to support our independent journalism at Good Morning World, please subscribe to our daily newsletter. It’s FREE and appears 7 mornings a week. As we prepare to install a fully-automated sign-up, in the meantime please send an email with the word SUBSCRIBE to ianrbrodie@gmail com.