Widespread protests in Iran over economic despair have claimed more than 500 lives, with rights activists reporting a grim toll of at least 490 civilians and dozens of security personnel killed in clashes over three grueling weeks. The unrest, now spanning 186 cities across all 31 provinces, began December 28 amid skyrocketing inflation and a collapsing rial that has left families unable to afford basics. Authorities have arrested over 10,000, imposed internet blackouts, and deployed drones, while accusing the US and Israel of meddling.

It all ignited in Mashhad with cries against price surges on food and fuel, but quickly snowballed into direct attacks on the regime's iron grip. Verified videos capture burning barricades, masked protesters hurling stones, and riot police firing live rounds in streets from the northeast to the capital. Tehran labels it foreign "bullying," yet the fury echoes the 2022 Mahsa Amini uprising, only fiercer this time around.

President Donald Trump, in his second term, has been briefed on military options targeting Iran as the death toll mounts, per New York Times reporting. On Truth Social, he declared the country on the brink of "FREEDOM like never before," offering US support while hinting at readiness to act. Israel remains on high alert amid warnings of retaliation. Tehran, facing its biggest test since 1979, now signals willingness to negotiate—Trump noted in interviews he'd prefer deals over destruction, opening a narrow diplomatic path.

Oil markets brace for turbulence if tensions boil over, reminiscent of the 2020 Soleimani fallout. For everyday Iranians, the rial's plunge mirrors crises elsewhere—like India's 2022 inflation scramble—but repression here risks total breakdown. As the clerical leadership teeters, the world watches if talks can douse the flames or ignite wider conflict.