Iran is reeling from its largest wave of unrest in three years as thousands take to the streets chanting Mullahs must leave and demanding the ouster of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. What started as fury over a plummeting currency has exploded into a nationwide challenge to the clerical regime, with protests spreading from Tehran to major cities like Mashhad and Isfahan.

The trigger? Irans rial hit a historic low of 1.4 million to the dollar in late December 2025, wiping out half its value in a year while inflation soared to 42.5%. Bazaar merchants in Tehran closed shops first, protesting price hikes—food up 72%, medicine 50%—that have left families scavenging for basics. Strikes quickly rippled to universities, where students decried corruption and endless foreign wars draining the nations coffers.

By New Years, crowds were storming government offices, shouting Death to the dictator and Neither Gaza nor Lebanon—my life for Iran. Social media footage shows security forces firing tear gas and live rounds, with at least one protester killed and dozens arrested. This echoes 2022s Mahsa Amini uprising but feels broader, dubbed a hunger revolution by observers.

External woes compound the crisis: U.S. maximum pressure sanctions under President Trump, renewed after his 2025 inauguration, have slashed oil exports alongside Israeli strikes on nuclear facilities. Irans central bank chief resigned amid failed reforms, as Khamenei vows crackdowns while blaming enemies. Protests persist into Friday despite cold weather shutdown orders, signaling deep disillusionment. With the economy in freefall, analysts question if the mullahs can hold on—or if this marks the regimes unraveling.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.