Protesters at Tehran's Grand Bazaar clash with security forces in violent standoff as economic crisis deepens.
Iran's nationwide protest movement has entered its 10th day, with demonstrators demanding action on the country's spiralling inflation and a struggling economy. The protests, which began over rising prices and the state of the economy, have shown no signs of slowing down, with demonstrations reported in at least 257 locations across the country.
Security forces responded to the protests with force, firing tear gas and expelling demonstrators from the Grand Bazaar, a historic hub for activism since the 1979 revolution. The clashes have resulted in at least 35 fatalities and over 1,200 arrests, according to US-based Human Rights Activists news agency (HRNA).
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the economic situation was out of his control, warning that any attempt to intervene could worsen inflation. "The government basically does not have such power," he said. "Even if it wants to do this, it will be forced to put heavy pressure on the lower deciles of society by printing money."
The Iranian rial has plummeted to a historic low against the US dollar, with its value dropping by two-thirds in the past three years. The country's central bank has announced plans to curb a programme that gives preferential exchange rates to businesses using dollars, a move likely to further exacerbate shortages and price increases.
As prices rise, Iranian grocery stores are struggling to keep up with demand, with some goods becoming unavailability due to traders hoarding products in anticipation of inflation. The average price of a bottle of cooking oil has recently doubled, while other essential items remain scarce.
The US State Department has condemned the security forces' actions, labelling them a "clear crime against humanity". Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has acknowledged the legitimacy of protesters' demands but warned that rioters should be brought to justice. The Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, was recently captured and brought to New York by US forces, drawing criticism from top Iranian officials who are wary of US intervention.
Iran's nationwide protest movement has entered its 10th day, with demonstrators demanding action on the country's spiralling inflation and a struggling economy. The protests, which began over rising prices and the state of the economy, have shown no signs of slowing down, with demonstrations reported in at least 257 locations across the country.
Security forces responded to the protests with force, firing tear gas and expelling demonstrators from the Grand Bazaar, a historic hub for activism since the 1979 revolution. The clashes have resulted in at least 35 fatalities and over 1,200 arrests, according to US-based Human Rights Activists news agency (HRNA).
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the economic situation was out of his control, warning that any attempt to intervene could worsen inflation. "The government basically does not have such power," he said. "Even if it wants to do this, it will be forced to put heavy pressure on the lower deciles of society by printing money."
The Iranian rial has plummeted to a historic low against the US dollar, with its value dropping by two-thirds in the past three years. The country's central bank has announced plans to curb a programme that gives preferential exchange rates to businesses using dollars, a move likely to further exacerbate shortages and price increases.
As prices rise, Iranian grocery stores are struggling to keep up with demand, with some goods becoming unavailability due to traders hoarding products in anticipation of inflation. The average price of a bottle of cooking oil has recently doubled, while other essential items remain scarce.
The US State Department has condemned the security forces' actions, labelling them a "clear crime against humanity". Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has acknowledged the legitimacy of protesters' demands but warned that rioters should be brought to justice. The Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, was recently captured and brought to New York by US forces, drawing criticism from top Iranian officials who are wary of US intervention.
the economic crisis is getting crazy the prices are doubling for cooking oil lol can't even afford to make dinner anymore... i feel bad for the ppl who are struggling but at the same time i'm worried about the government not doing anything about it. they keep saying it's out of their control but like isn't that kinda the problem? 
the protests need to keep going till someone listens. 257 locations across the country is a lot... i hope it doesn't get even worse 
, can you believe this? Iran is in chaos 
and it's heartbreaking seeing all these innocent people get hurt 
The fact that security forces are using tear gas and arresting thousands of protesters just to keep them quiet is unacceptable 
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– a two-thirds drop in three years? That's crazy 
. And can you imagine having to deal with inflation that makes your cooking oil double in price overnight? 
It's like, where do people even go from here?
. The fact that President Pezeshkian is saying they can't control inflation and have to print more money? That sounds like a classic case of blaming the economy, not taking responsibility 
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, but it's hard not to feel frustrated when there are so many unanswered questions. What's really going on behind these closed doors? Why is everyone just so quick to condemn each other 
?
. on a more serious note, 257 locations across the country is crazy, and i'm not surprised that the US state department is speaking out against the security forces' actions - it just goes to show that there are still some people who care about human rights 
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I mean, what's new in Iran? 
It's like they're trying to recreate the same situation as Venezuela... how original 
. The Grand Bazaar is literally a hub for activism since the 70s, so it's kinda weird that security forces went there with tear gas 
. And yeah, it's not like Iran has been in an economic crisis for years now and their protests have just started 
. It's like they're trying to say "oh, look at us, we're oppressed!" 
. The Venezuelan president being taken by the US doesn't really have anything to do with this situation though... it's more like Iran is just trying to deflect attention from their own problems 
.
I'm reading this news and thinking about how crazy the economic situation in Iran is 
. It's no wonder people are taking to the streets, they're not just protesting for a few things, they're fighting for their basic rights and way of life 
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. The Iranian rial has fallen off a cliff, people can barely afford basic necessities, and yet the government is still printing money like it's going out of style 
this protest is super unsettling... like they're really hurting each other over economic issues that seem so out of control 
it feels like things are escalating rapidly. and what's crazy is how some leaders are just shrugging it off, saying they can't do anything about it 
meanwhile, innocent people are getting arrested and killed 
the whole thing is so messed up...
and people are at each other's throats 
️. can't even get a bottle of cooking oil without paying an arm and a leg 
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