Three years ago, Mehnaz was too young to join the protests after Mahsa Amini died in police custody. She watched from home as crowds chanting woman life freedom were beaten back. Now nineteen and a student in Tehran, she finally joined demonstrations as Iran’s worsening economic crisis pushed people into the streets. A sharp collapse of the rial and soaring prices triggered protests that began with shop closures and spread to more than thirty cities. At least ten people have reportedly been killed and many more arrested.
Protesters are no longer chanting only about prices. Slogans such as death to the dictator and woman life freedom have returned. Students say security forces have raided dormitories and beaten demonstrators. Many universities have shifted classes online to prevent gatherings. Protesters say fear has lost its power because they see no future under current conditions.
From the Iranian government’s perspective, the situation is more complex. President Masoud Pezeshkian has said authorities should listen to legitimate public demands and seek dialogue. Officials argue that economic pressure is driven mainly by international sanctions and frozen assets. Security institutions insist they are responding to unrest aimed at destabilising the country. Senior officials accuse the United States and Israel of exploiting economic hardship to incite protests.
Iranian leaders warn that national security and sovereignty are red lines. They say reforms must come through lawful processes, not street violence or foreign pressure, and insist that order will be maintained even as economic challenges persist.
