Tue Dec 30 13:29:42 UTC 2025: ## Iran Faces Protests Over Plunging Currency; Government Promises Dialogue
Dubai – The Iranian government announced Tuesday it will engage in dialogue with protest leaders following days of demonstrations in Tehran and other cities over the rapidly declining value of the Iranian Rial and soaring inflation. The move comes after the currency hit a record low of 1,390,000 to the U.S. dollar on Monday, exacerbated by the impact of Western sanctions and recent economic liberalization policies.
Protests, including those involving shopkeepers in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, erupted on Sunday and Monday, marking the latest wave of unrest in Iran fueled by economic hardship. President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the situation on social media, stating he instructed the Interior Minister to address the protesters’ “legitimate demands.”
Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani confirmed the government recognizes the validity of the protests and acknowledged the pressure on people’s livelihoods. “We officially recognise the protests… We hear their voices and we know that this originates from natural pressure arising from the pressure on people’s livelihoods,” she said.
The government’s response marks a potential shift from previous crackdowns on protests, which have been met with violent suppression and mass arrests. The situation is further complicated by ongoing international pressure, including threats from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding potential further military action if Iran resumes work on ballistic missiles or its nuclear program. The U.S. and Israel previously conducted airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear installations in June, citing concerns over the development of nuclear weapons. Iran maintains its nuclear energy program is for peaceful purposes only.
First Piper 