Tens of thousands of Iranians closed out 2025 with a fourth consecutive day of massive protests, as demonstrations sparked by the country's collapsing economy have escalated into open calls for regime change across the Islamic Republic.
The protests, which began in Tehran, have now spread to major cities including Isfahan, Mashhad, and Hamadan, with merchants shutting down stores and university students joining the anti-government demonstrations. Iran's historic Grand Bazaar in Tehran has shut down as the economic crisis deepens.
Social media reports from inside Iran paint a picture of a nation in economic freefall.
"Iranians rising nationwide — Tehran's Grand Bazaar shut down, protests spreading to Isfahan, Mashhad, Hamadan & more. Day 5+ of strikes & marches over rial's historic collapse (~1.4M to $1), 50%+ inflation & crushing costs,"reported one social media account tracking the protests.
Currency in Historic Collapse
The Iranian rial has plummeted to unprecedented lows, with reports showing the currency trading at over 1.4 million rials to one US dollar. Other sources indicate even worse exchange rates, with some reporting 42,125 Iranian rials to the dollar, highlighting the chaos in Iran's monetary system.
"In 46 years, the Islamic Regime didn't just mismanage Iran. It obliterated its currency, its economy, and the future of its people. Iranians have had enough,"one social media post declared, capturing the growing frustration with four decades of theocratic rule.
What began as economic protests have quickly transformed into anti-regime demonstrations, with chants reportedly shifting from economic grievances to direct calls for freedom and regime change. Police have deployed tear gas against protesters as the demonstrations continue to spread.
The protests represent another sign of the Iranian regime's growing instability, as decades of corruption, international sanctions, and economic mismanagement have devastated the country's economy. With inflation exceeding 50% and basic necessities becoming unaffordable for ordinary Iranians, the protests highlight the regime's complete failure to provide for its people while funding terrorist proxies across the Middle East.