IRAN, THE TIDE OF PROTEST CHALLENGING CLERICALISM - Cristina Di Silvio - ETHICA SOCIETAS-Rivista di scienze umane e sociali

Inflation and repression ignite the country: a widespread revolt challenges the regime amid bloodshed, isolation, and global pressure

Abstract: At the beginning of 2026, Iran is experiencing an unprecedented wave of protests, initially driven by economic concerns but quickly evolving into a direct challenge to the theocratic regime. Government repression has resulted in dozens of deaths and thousands of arrests, while a near-total internet and telecommunications blackout has limited visibility and coordination. The mobilization, widespread and cross-sectional, marks a turning point in Iran’s internal stability and regional dynamics.

Keywords: #Iran #ProtestsInIran #Tehran #1979Revolution #PopularDissent #EconomicCrisis #Inflation #GrandBazaar #Strikes #HumanRights #Repression #Basij #IRGC #InternetBlackout #Censorship #StateViolence #CivilianVictims #MahsaAmini #WomanLifeFreedom #CivilSociety #ClericalLeadership #Khamenei #Theocracy #SocialProtest #PopularMovement #ContemporaryHistory #MiddleEast #Geopolitics #Freedom #CivilRights #CristinaDiSilvio #EthicaSocietas #EthicaSocietasJournal #ScientificJournal #SocialSciences #ethicasocietasupli

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Tehran and the Sparks of Revolt

The spark ignited on December 28, 2025, at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, where merchants and citizens protested against soaring inflation, the devaluation of the rial, and rising prices of essential goods. Within days, demonstrations spread across all provinces, from urban centers to rural areas, with incidents of government buildings set on fire and barricades erected in the streets of the capital. The movement has taken on a spontaneous and widespread character, without centralized leadership, rooted in students, workers, merchants, and citizens of all ages and social backgrounds.

Repression and the Human Cost

Authorities responded with escalating force, using tear gas, metal-coated bullets, and live ammunition. According to international NGOs, the latest toll is at least 62 dead, including minors, and over 2,200 arrests. Confirmed victims include 22-year-old Saghar Etemadi, shot in the head, and brothers Rasoul and Reza Kadyvrian from Kermanshah, killed in front of their families. In some provinces, hospitals and healthcare facilities were raided by security forces to identify and suppress the wounded and demonstrators, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

Digital Blackout and Isolation

To limit the spread of protests and control the narrative, authorities imposed a near-total internet and telecommunications blackout, particularly in major cities such as Tehran, Mashhad, and Shiraz. This disrupted access to social media and messaging platforms, isolating citizens and hindering international verification of events.

Trump’s Statements and Khamenei’s Response

The crisis has attracted intense international attention, especially from Washington. President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. is ready to intervene if necessary to protect peaceful protesters and prevent violent repression. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded immediately and sternly, labeling protesters as “saboteurs” and urging Trump to “focus on the problems of his own country” before interfering in Iran’s internal affairs. The Supreme Leader reiterated that the regime will neither yield nor negotiate on matters of principle.

A Deep Social and Geographical Wound

Violence has spared neither urban centers nor less densely populated provinces. The map of the injured and dead highlights a widespread crisis that crosses social classes, ethnicities, and generations, transforming initially economic protests into a national political challenge.

Reactions from European Countries and the United Nations

The repression has elicited strong international responses: The European Union condemned the “disproportionate” use of force and called for respect for freedom of assembly, expression, and association, emphasizing that the digital blackout hinders transparency. Individual EU member states, including Germany and Sweden, reiterated the need for moderation and the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights.The United Nations expressed concern over human rights in Iran, calling for constructive dialogue and the protection of peaceful demonstrators, without advocating direct military intervention.

A Crucial Chapter in Iran’s History

These protests follow a trajectory of mobilizations over the past years, from the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement in 2022 to the current mass demonstrations. They represent a structural challenge to clerical authority, with potential long-term implications for domestic politics, regional stability, and international diplomatic relations.