At least seven people have been killed in protests across Iran, triggered by worsening economic conditions, with the victims including both civilians and security forces, according to reports.
The demonstrations are described as the largest in Iran since 2022, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody. However, observers note that the current protests are less intense and not as nationwide as those sparked by Amini’s death.
The most violent clashes were reported in the city of Azna, where videos circulated on social media showed buildings and vehicles set ablaze in the streets, while gunfire could be heard, the Associated Press reported.
The protests began on December 28 in Tehran, after the national currency sharply depreciated against the U.S. dollar and inflation surged to 52 percent. Demonstrations subsequently spread to several other regions of the country.
During the day, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iranian authorities that Washington would intervene if protesters were killed.
In response, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged caution, warning that any U.S. intervention would trigger chaos across the Middle East.
