Iran ERUPTS in Nationwide ‘Anti-Khamenei’ Protests
As 2026 begins, Iran is gripped by its most significant wave of unrest since the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests. What started as localized strikes by merchants in late December 2025 has exploded into nationwide demonstrations explicitly targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with chants of “Death to the Dictator,” “Death to Khamenei,” and “This is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] will be overthrown” echoing across dozens of cities.
The spark was economic: Iran’s rial currency collapsed dramatically in 2025, losing nearly half its value against the US dollar, while inflation soared to around 42-50%. Shopkeepers in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar initiated strikes on December 27-28 over soaring prices, inability to pay rent, and general economic stagnation. Rapidly, the protests spread to cities like Isfahan, Hamedan, Shiraz, Kermanshah, Qeshm, Zanjan, and even traditional strongholds such as Qom and Mashhad.
Students from major universities—including Amirkabir, Sharif, Beheshti, and Tehran Science and Technology—joined the movement, chanting for unity (“We are all together”) and freedom. Demonstrators have also voiced frustration with Iran’s foreign entanglements, with slogans like “No Gaza, No Lebanon, My Life for Iran” rejecting the regime’s costly support for regional proxies.
The protests quickly evolved from economic grievances into direct political challenges against the Islamic Republic’s leadership. Crowds have stormed government buildings (including governorates in Fasa and other areas), torn down Khamenei banners, burned regime flags, and clashed with security forces. Reports indicate live ammunition use, tear gas, and arrests, with at least several deaths (including protesters and at least one security officer) in provinces like Lorestan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and Fars. Funerals for fallen demonstrators have themselves become flashpoints, amplifying anti-Khamenei chants.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, elected in 2025 on promises of reform, has called for dialogue with protesters and acknowledged their “legitimate” demands, while recognizing the right to peaceful protest. However, his administration lacks full control over security forces, and measures like nationwide business shutdowns (officially for cold weather and energy saving) have been seen as attempts to curb gatherings. The regime has appointed hardliners to key security roles and accused foreign powers (including the US and Israel) of instigating unrest.
International reactions have included US President Donald Trump’s warning that Washington is “locked and loaded” against violent crackdowns, while Iranian officials have threatened retaliation against perceived intervention.
These demonstrations, now in their sixth day or more as of early January 2026, represent a growing loss of fear among Iranians—particularly youth and merchants—toward the clerical establishment. While the outcome remains uncertain, the scale and boldness of the anti-Khamenei slogans mark a potential turning point in the long-simmering discontent with the Islamic Republic. The world watches closely as Iran’s streets continue to roar for change.