Mass protests have swept across all 31 provinces of Iran since demonstrations began on December 28, 2025, sparked by economic hardships and frustration with the government. According to PBS, protests over rising prices and weak currency quickly grew into nationwide demands for political change.

Iranian authorities have responded with a severe crackdown. According to United Nations human rights expert, Mai Sato, thousands of people have been killed and many more arrested, with reports that security forces are even detaining injured protesters from hospitals, a violation of international law.

Human rights organizations on the ground, such as Hengaw, based in Norway, describe the crackdown as crimes against humanity, based on interviews with families and eyewitnesses.

Estimates vary widely because the Iranian government shut down much of the country＊s internet during the unrest, making it harder for independent observers to confirm events. Civil liberties groups report that at least several thousand people have died and tens of thousands have been detained during protests and related security operations.

International groups like the International Commission of Jurists have publicly condemned the Iranian government＊s actions and called for an end to unlawful killings and arrests.

Protesters include students, workers, and ordinary citizens from large cities and small cities. Many urge peaceful reform, while authorities insist that they are defending national security. As global attention grows, families of the detained and killed continue to demand transparency and justice.