Irans New Year Demonstrations Raise Concerns About Regime Stability

Protests Erupt in Iran Amid Economic Strains and Political Uncertainty

Demonstrations took place in Tehran and cities across central and southwestern Iran at the end of 2025, coinciding with a year marked by war, economic strain, and political uncertainty. In 2025, Israel launched a 12-day attack on Iran, targeting military and economic infrastructure, followed by US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Protests in Iran are not unprecedented, having occurred thousands of times since the mid-1990s. The drivers of these demonstrations have varied over time, including restrictions on social and political freedoms, deterioration of economic conditions, and foreign policy tensions. In 2025, protests were sparked by a strike by merchants and bazaar owners due to a sharp decline in purchasing power, driven by rising inflation and unemployment.

The Iranian rial lost approximately 50% of its value, while the unemployment rate reached 7.5%. Economic grievances have consistently featured alongside demands for greater social freedom, including opposition to compulsory hijab laws. Protests in 2022 were also fueled by the killing of Mahsa Amini while in custody over the hijab law.

Iran’s governments have proposed various economic strategies to address these issues, but none have been implemented. The nuclear crisis and sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council have contributed to Iran’s economic challenges. Since 1980, the country has faced longstanding structural problems that remain unaddressed.

The protests in 2025 highlight the ongoing interaction between domestic politics, governance, foreign policy, and sanctions in shaping dissent and the state’s response to it.

Source: Al Jazeera