Iran Protests Enter Fifth Day as Fatal Clashes Spread

Protests over Iran’s deepening economic crisis entered its fifth consecutive day on Thursday, as clashes between demonstrators and security forces turned deadly in several parts of the country.

The unrest, which began on Sunday with strikes by shopkeepers in Tehran over soaring prices and a collapsing currency, has since spread nationwide and escalated into violent confrontations. Officials reported fatalities overnight into Thursday, followed by additional deaths during fresh clashes later in the day.

The deadliest incident on Thursday was reported in the western city of Lordegan, where the Fars news agency said two civilians were killed during clashes between security forces and protesters. Iranian media reported that protesters threw stones at administrative buildings, including government offices and banks, prompting police to respond with tear gas. Several people were arrested, described by authorities as ringleaders.

Overnight, a member of Iran’s security forces was killed in the western city of Kuhdasht, marking the first confirmed fatality among security personnel during the wave of protests. State television identified the man as a 21-year-old member of the Basij, a volunteer paramilitary force affiliated with the IRGC. Officials said 13 police officers and Basij members were injured during the unrest, largely from stone-throwing.

The protests mark the largest unrest Iran has seen in three years and come at a sensitive moment for the country’s leadership. Iran’s economy has been battered by years of Western sanctions, with inflation reaching 52 percent year-on-year in December, according to official data. The national currency, the rial, has lost more than a third of its value against the U.S. dollar over the past year.

On Thursday, the government indicated it would pursue both dialogue and enforcement. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said authorities plan to hold direct talks with trade unions and merchants, though no details were given. At the same time, officials warned they would act firmly against what they described as attempts to turn economic protests into disorder.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged protesters’ “legitimate demands” and called on officials to address economic hardships, while the country’s prosecutor general warned that any effort to turn protests into insecurity or destruction of public property would face a decisive response.

Authorities have repeatedly crushed protests in recent years over issues ranging from high prices and water shortages to women’s rights and political freedoms.