Sat Jan 03 10:08:48 UTC 2026: News Article:
Iran Protests Intensify as Death Toll Climbs Amid Economic Crisis
DUBAI – January 3, 2026 – Protests across Iran fueled by the country’s crumbling economy have escalated, with authorities reporting at least 10 deaths as of Saturday, January 3rd, 2026. The demonstrations, now entering their second week, show no signs of abating and have spread to over 100 locations in 22 of Iran’s 31 provinces, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.
The latest fatalities include a man in Qom who was reportedly killed by a grenade he was carrying, allegedly with the intention of attacking others, according to the state-owned IRAN newspaper. A member of the Basij, the paramilitary arm of the Revolutionary Guard, was also killed in a gun and knife attack in Harsin, Kermanshah province.
The protests were initially sparked by the rapid depreciation of the Iranian rial, which has seen $1 reach a value of 1.4 million rials. Demonstrators are now also chanting against the country’s theocratic regime.
The situation is further complicated by recent geopolitical events, including Iran’s June war with Israel, which resulted in U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. While Iran has since claimed to have ceased uranium enrichment, talks with the West regarding its atomic program have yet to materialize.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran against violently suppressing the protests, stating that the United States “will come to their rescue” if they do. However, this has sparked an angry response from Iranian officials, who threatened to target American troops in the Middle East.
The protests are the largest seen in Iran since the 2022 demonstrations triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. While not yet as widespread as the Amini protests, the current unrest poses a significant challenge to the reformist government of President Masoud Pezeshkian, who has acknowledged limited power to address the economic crisis.
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