Protests in Iran have continued Wednesday morning for the fourth consecutive day. Demonstrations persisted through the night at several small focal points and spread across multiple cities, with crowds chanting slogans against the regime while security forces remained deployed. The renewed protests have prompted senior judicial officials to warn of aggressive legal responses to violations of order.
شلیک مستقیم آدمکشان حکومت به معترضان
فسا، ۱۰ دی ماه pic.twitter.com/VtIw0B5t8Y
— Sardar Pashaei (@sardar_pashaei) December 31, 2025
Security forces acted to suppress the demonstrations, with media outlets in the country reporting numerous arrests, detentions, and interrogations of students, and the use of live fire and tear gas at several locations. According to reports, one student was seriously injured in Tehran.
Protest slogans intensified, going beyond economic demands, with demonstrators directing their anger at clerical rule and the Supreme Leader. Some participants even called for regime change and a return to the Pahlavi dynasty era.
Persan / Français
دانشجویان دانشگاه تهران ۹ دی ۱۴۰۴:
«مرگ بر ستمگر ، چه شاه باشه چه رهبر»
Français:
Étudiants de l'Université de Téhéran – 30 décembre 2025 (9 Dey 1404) :
« À bas l'oppresseur, qu'il soit le Shah ou le Guide. »#iran pic.twitter.com/xdWkq8HnSk
— Nazila Maroofian|نازیلا معروفیان (@maroofian_n) December 30, 2025
In response to the protests, President Masoud Pezeshkian presented Iran's economic difficulties on Wednesday morning as the result of external pressure and internal division, calling for increased unity within the establishment. Speaking before the Central Bank's general assembly, Pezeshkian said the country faces "external pressure from the nation's enemies," adding that internal disputes worsen the situation. "Unfortunately, within the country, instead of synergy and support, there are certain positions and actions that bring about weakening and harm," he said.
Security force vehicles were deployed outside the Charsu shopping complex in Tehran, part of an increased security presence in the capital's centers. Footage provided to Iranian media outlet Iran International showed several security vehicles parked near the complex, which serves as a major commercial and cultural hub and is located near streets where protest activity has been recorded in recent days.
Simultaneously, reports arrived of protest gatherings in Isfahan and Kermanshah. Footage from Isfahan showed groups of citizens assembling in Naqsh-e Jahan Square – one of the country's prominent public spaces and a recurring protest site during periods of unrest. In Kermanshah in western Iran, demonstrators were documented chanting "death to the dictator."
The protests also spread beyond the major urban centers. Residents of Fasa in Fars province in southern Iran broke out in protests, with eyewitnesses reporting that a group of citizens assembled outside the governor's office in the city, which has approximately 110,000 residents. During the gathering, critical slogans were heard against the Islamic Republic. It was also reported that security forces fired toward the demonstrators, as was also reported from other locations.
Against the backdrop of these developments, Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Bathaei said Iran must preserve "social cohesion" amid economic turbulence. He warned against attempts to exploit economic pressure for what he termed hostile psychological operations. According to him, economic fluctuations are not merely a matter of data and statistics but directly affect citizens' livelihoods, their mental well-being, and the social fabric. "Today the war is not conducted only in the military arena; the main war is the war of wills and social cohesion," he said. Bathaei called on citizens to avoid spreading rumors and maintain composure, emphasizing that any message of despair, rumor, or false polarization could serve hostile purposes. He also noted that authorities are monitoring the social situation and that decision-makers must weigh social considerations and professional opinions in managing the crisis.
Meanwhile, two major universities in Tehran announced on Wednesday a transition to online learning until the end of the current semester, against the backdrop of expanding protests and strikes. Allameh Tabataba'i University and Shahid Beheshti University reported that in-person classes would be suspended until further notice. The deputy education minister explained that the decision was made due to cold weather, energy shortages, and concern for student welfare. The universities also announced that all students who had been detained to date have been released.
