Iran Unrest: Two Policemen Killed as Protests Spread to 111 Cities

Iran Unrest: Two Policemen Killed as Protests Spread to 111 Cities

Violent clashes erupted across Iran on Wednesday as anti-government protests driven by a deepening economic crisis entered their 11th day, leaving multiple casualties and hundreds arrested amid a heavy security crackdown.

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, reported that two police officers were shot dead by armed individuals during unrest in Lordegan, a town in the country’s south-west. The officers were identified as Hadi Azarsalim and Moslem Mahdavinasab.

Videos circulating on social media and verified by BBC Persian showed tense confrontations between protesters and security forces in several cities, with gunfire and tear gas heard and seen as crowds chanted slogans and hurled stones.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA), protests have spread to 111 cities and towns across all 31 provinces. HRANA said at least 34 protesters and four security personnel have been killed, while more than 2,200 protesters have been arrested. BBC Persian has independently confirmed the deaths and identities of 21 people, while Iranian authorities acknowledge the deaths of five security personnel.

The protests began on December 28 in Tehran, after shopkeepers demonstrated against another sharp fall in the value of the Iranian rial against the US dollar. The currency has hit a record low, with inflation rising to about 40%, as sanctions over Iran’s nuclear programme, coupled with government mismanagement and corruption, continue to strain the economy.

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Demonstrations quickly spread to universities and other cities, with protesters chanting slogans against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and, in some cases, expressing support for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah.

On Wednesday, verified footage showed crowds in Qazvin chanting “Death to the dictator” and “Long live the shah.” In Bandar Abbas, protesters briefly called on police to support them before being dispersed. In Mashhad, clashes forced security forces to retreat, while in Abadan, demonstrators chanted slogans rejecting Iran’s clerical leadership.

As night fell, security forces fired tear gas to disperse protesters in Aligudarz, while additional footage appeared to show officers opening fire as they retreated from advancing crowds in other locations.

Following a cabinet meeting, Vice-President Mohammad Jafar Qaempanah said President Masoud Pezeshkian had ordered that peaceful protesters should not face security measures, while warning that armed individuals attacking police or military sites would be treated as rioters.

State media reported that the government had begun paying 71 million citizens a new monthly allowance of about $7 to ease the impact of the rising cost of living. Meanwhile, judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said those involved in violence would face swift prosecution to deter further unrest.

Ayatollah Khamenei said authorities should engage with protesters but insisted that “rioters should be put in their place,” comments that followed warnings from US President Donald Trump, who threatened intervention if peaceful protesters were killed.

Analysts say the unrest reflects widespread frustration. Dr Sanam Vakil of Chatham House said the protests had become political, driven by public anger over worsening living conditions. Another analyst, Sadegh Zibakalam of the University of Tehran, suggested Iranian authorities may be acting cautiously to avoid provoking foreign intervention.

The demonstrations are the most widespread since the 2022 protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, which ended in a deadly crackdown that killed hundreds, according to human rights groups.

Iran Unrest: Two Policemen Killed as Protests Spread to 111 Cities

BBC