Tehran, Jan 5, 2026 — At least 16 people have been killed during a week of nationwide protests in Iran, according to human rights organizations, as public anger grows over soaring inflation, rising living costs, and the sharp devaluation of the national currency.
The Kurdish rights group Hengaw reported that at least 17 protesters have died since demonstrations began, while the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said at least 16 people were killed and 582 others arrested. Reuters noted that it was unable to independently verify the figures, and casualty numbers reported by state media and rights groups vary.
The protests — described as the largest in Iran in three years — have spread across major cities, including Tehran, where shops at the Grand Bazaar were shuttered amid unrest. Demonstrators have clashed with security fHeadline
At Least 16 Killed in a Week of Protests Across Iran: Rights Groups
Subhead
Deadly clashes erupt nationwide as demonstrations over inflation and currency collapse intensify; Tehran warns against foreign interference
Tehran, Jan 5, 2026 — At least 16 people have been killed during a week of nationwide protests in Iran, according to human rights organizations, as public anger grows over soaring inflation, rising living costs, and the sharp devaluation of the national currency.
The Kurdish rights group Hengaw reported that at least 17 protesters have died since demonstrations began, while the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said at least 16 people were killed and 582 others arrested. Reuters noted that it was unable to independently verify the figures, and casualty numbers reported by state media and rights groups vary.
The protests — described as the largest in Iran in three years — have spread across major cities, including Tehran, where shops at the Grand Bazaar were shuttered amid unrest. Demonstrators have clashed with security forces as frustration mounts over economic mismanagement and international sanctions.
State media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian instructed the Interior Ministry to act with restraint and responsibility toward protesters. He said force alone cannot resolve social tensions or restore public trust.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Friday that Washington could intervene if violence against protesters escalates, saying the United States was “fully prepared,” though he did not specify what actions might be taken.
Iran’s senior officials responded by threatening retaliation against U.S. forces in the Middle East. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran would not bow to its enemies, while also indicating that the government is open to dialogue — though he ruled out talks with what he described as “rioters.”
Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said the government acknowledges its limitations but accused certain groups of exploiting the protests. He urged young people not to fall into what he called “the enemy’s trap.”
Iran’s inflation rate has exceeded 36 percent since March, while the rial has lost nearly half its value against the U.S. dollar. International sanctions linked to Iran’s nuclear program, along with water and electricity shortages and forecasts of an economic recession in 2026, have further deepened the crisis.orces as frustration mounts over economic mismanagement and international sanctions.
State media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian instructed the Interior Ministry to act with restraint and responsibility toward protesters. He said force alone cannot resolve social tensions or restore public trust.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Friday that Washington could intervene if violence against protesters escalates, saying the United States was “fully prepared,” though he did not specify what actions might be taken.
Iran’s senior officials responded by threatening retaliation against U.S. forces in the Middle East. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran would not bow to its enemies, while also indicating that the government is open to dialogue — though he ruled out talks with what he described as “rioters.”
Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said the government acknowledges its limitations but accused certain groups of exploiting the protests. He urged young people not to fall into what he called “the enemy’s trap.”
Iran’s inflation rate has exceeded 36 percent since March, while the rial has lost nearly half its value against the U.S. dollar. International sanctions linked to Iran’s nuclear program, along with water and electricity shortages and forecasts of an economic recession in 2026, have further deepened the crisis.
