Protests against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have turned violent with the start of the New Year, leaving several demonstrators and at least one member of the security forces dead, according to Iranian media and rights groups cited by Reuters.
After nearly a week of unrest, demonstrations have now spread from major cities to rural areas. The Associated Press reported that at least three people were killed in the first confirmed fatalities since the protests began, as clashes erupted between protesters and security forces in multiple parts of the country.
Iran is witnessing its biggest wave of protests in nearly three years, driven largely by soaring inflation and economic hardship. Deaths have been reported from Lordegan, Kuhdasht and Isfahan, underlining the widening reach of the unrest, which initially began with shopkeepers protesting the government’s handling of a sharp currency slide and rising prices.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-affiliated Fars news agency and Kurdish rights group Hengaw reported fatalities in Lordegan, a western city. Authorities have also confirmed at least one death in Kuhdasht and another in Isfahan province, signalling a clear escalation as demonstrations spread to new regions.
Fars said two people were killed in Lordegan during clashes involving security forces and what it described as armed protesters. Hengaw, however, claimed that several demonstrators were killed or wounded there after security forces opened fire.
The IRGC said a member of its affiliated Basij volunteer paramilitary force was killed in Kuhdasht and 13 others injured. The Guards accused protesters of “taking advantage of the atmosphere of popular protests” to carry out violence.
Hengaw identified the deceased Basij member as Amirhossam Khodayari Fard, claiming he was participating in protests and was killed by security forces. The group also reported that a protester was shot dead on Wednesday in Isfahan province. Reuters said it could not independently verify these claims.
Protests were also reported in Marvdasht in southern Fars province, according to activist outlet HRANA. Hengaw said demonstrators were detained on Wednesday in Kermanshah, Khuzestan and Hamedan provinces.
The unrest comes at a sensitive time for Iran’s clerical leadership, as the economy continues to suffer under Western sanctions. Inflation rose to 42.5 per cent in December, while the rial has lost nearly half its value against the dollar over the past year. Recent Israeli and US airstrikes in June have further strained Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure.
In response, authorities have adopted a mixed approach. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Thursday that officials were prepared to hold direct talks with trade unions and merchant groups, though she did not provide details. At the same time, security forces remain deployed in protest-hit areas.
Merchants, shopkeepers and university students have been demonstrating for days, forcing the closure of major bazaars in several cities. On Wednesday, the government declared a holiday due to cold weather, effectively shutting down large parts of the country.
Iranian authorities have a long record of cracking down on protests linked to economic hardship, drought, women’s rights and political freedoms, often using heavy security measures and mass arrests. With inflation surging and the economy under sustained pressure, analysts say the conditions fuelling the current unrest remain firmly in place.