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Protesters set fire to Tehran’s Al-Rasoul Mosque on Friday. Photo credit- Masih Alinejad.
At least 217 people are claimed to have been killed during anti-government protests in Iran. Time magazine quoted a doctor in Tehran as saying that at least 217 deaths of protesters have been recorded in just six hospitals in the capital, most of them due to gunshot wounds.
Security forces opened fire at many places when the protests intensified on Thursday night, since then continuous action is going on. Meanwhile, an officer of the Revolutionary Guards, speaking to state TV, warned that parents should keep their children away from the demonstrations and not complain if they are shot.
Protestors set fire to Tehran’s Al Rasool Mosque on Friday night…
The government is using all its strength to stop the demonstration
According to the report, for the first few days it was not clear what stance the government would take. An official of the Anti Rights Police himself said that the security forces are confused. No one knows exactly what is going to happen next. But the bloody pictures and harsh statements that surfaced on Friday made it clear that full force is now being used.
Earlier, the government almost stopped internet and phone services across the country. US President Donald Trump had also warned that if the protesters were killed, the Iranian government would have to pay a heavy price.
A female protestor burns a photo of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and lights a cigarette. (Image credit- Masih Alinejad)
A protesting woman lights a cigarette after burning a photo of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who led the Islamic Revolution in 1979. (Photo credit- Masih Alinejad)
Experts fear – government will not hesitate in taking ruthless action
Experts say that now that the protests have spread to middle-class areas, the government will not hesitate to take brutal action. They believe that the number of casualties may increase further in the coming days.
Iran is already struggling with problems like conflict with Israel, international sanctions, declining economy, electricity and water shortage. There are differences within the government also.
President Massoud Pazhakian is publicly showing a soft stance, but many of his ministers are in favor of tough action. The government alleges that America and Israel are fueling these protests.
Some of the protesters are chanting slogans in support of the former Shah’s son, Reza Pahlavi, who has appealed from abroad to intensify the protests. People have also taken to the streets in Kurdish areas. Many protesters say that now they have nothing left to lose.
Resentment among common people increased due to inflation in Iran
GenZ is in anger across the country. The reason for this has been economic crisis. The Iranian currency rial fell to about 1.45 million per US dollar in December 2025, an all-time low.
The value of the rial has almost halved since the beginning of the year. Inflation has reached its peak here. The prices of food items have increased by 72% and the prices of medicines have increased by 50%.
Apart from this, the government’s proposal to increase taxes by 62% in the budget of 2026 has created huge resentment among the common people.
Khamenei’s appeal – do not destroy the country to please Trump
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei addressed the nation for the first time on Friday amid nationwide demonstrations on Saturday. Iran’s state TV broadcast his speech.
Khamenei said Iran would not tolerate ‘mercenaries working for foreigners’. He claimed that there are foreign agents behind the protests who are instigating violence in the country.
Khamenei said that there are some miscreants in the country who want to please the US President by damaging public property. But the united people of Iran will defeat all its enemies. He told Trump that instead of interfering in Iran’s affairs, he should focus on his country’s problems.
He further said- The Islamic Republic has come to power on the strength of the blood of hundreds of thousands of great people. “The Islamic Republic will never retreat before those who seek to destroy us.”
Khamenei’s statement came shortly after the incident when Trump again warned on Thursday that the US could attack Iran if Iranian security forces kill protesters.
Crown Prince said- preparing to return to the country
Iran’s Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has announced that he will return to the country and join the ongoing protests. 65 year old Reza Pahlavi has been living in exile in America for almost 50 years. On Saturday morning he said that he was preparing to return to his country.
In a post on social media, Reza Pahlavi wrote – I am also preparing to return to my country so that I can stand with you all, among the great people of Iran, at the time of victory of our national revolution. I am confident that that day is very close now.
Demand to hand over power to the Crown Prince
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini came to power in Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He was the Supreme Leader for 10 years from 1979 to 1989. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who became the Supreme Leader after him, has been in power for 37 years since 1989.
Iran today is facing serious challenges like economic crisis, high inflation, international sanctions, unemployment, currency decline and continuous mass movements. After 47 years, people angry with the current economic crisis and strict religious rule now want change.
For this reason, demands are being raised to hand over power to 65-year-old Crown Prince Raza Pahlavi. Protesters consider him a secular and democratic alternative. Youth and Gen Z feel that Pahlavi’s return can bring economic stability, global acceptance and personal freedom to Iran.
Iran’s economy depends on oil export
Iran’s total exports in 2024 were about $22.18 billion, of which oil and petrochemicals accounted for the major share, while imports stood at $34.65 billion, leading to a trade deficit of $12.47 billion.
This deficit is expected to increase further to $15 billion in 2025 due to reduction in oil exports and restrictions. Main trading partners include China (35% of exports), Türkiye, UAE and Iraq. Iran exports 90% of its oil to China.
Iran has sought to increase trade with neighboring countries and the Eurasian Economic Union, such as through the INSTC corridor and new transit routes with China. Yet, GDP growth is projected to be only 0.3% in 2025. Without the lifting of sanctions or the restoration of the nuclear deal, it will be difficult to stabilize trade and the value of the riyal.
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