Mass protests have erupted across Iran over economic hardship and rising prices, beginning on December 28 in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and spreading to 22 of the country’s 31 provinces. The demonstrations, now in their second week, have turned violent, with at least ten people reported dead nationwide. Amid the unrest, former U.S. President Donald Trump warned on his Truth Social platform that the United States would intervene if Iranian authorities attacked peaceful protesters, saying Washington was fully prepared to act.

Tehran sharply condemned Trump’s remarks, calling them reckless and a violation of international law. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said the Iranian people would reject any foreign interference, while the Foreign Ministry warned of a “swift, decisive and comprehensive” response to any U.S. intervention. The statement accused Washington of hypocrisy and cited past U.S. actions against Iran, including the 1953 coup and the 1988 downing of an Iranian civilian airliner. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also vowed to defend the country’s sovereignty.

Iran’s envoy to the United Nations urged Secretary-General António Guterres to denounce Trump’s “illegal threats,” asserting Iran’s right to self-defense and holding the U.S. responsible for any escalation.

Iran has sent a formal letter to the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the UN Security Council condemning what it called the “illegal threats” made by U.S. President Donald Trump. The letter, delivered on Friday by Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, followed Trump’s warning of possible intervention if Iran used violence to suppress protests. According to Al Jazeera, the Iranian envoy urged UN officials to strongly denounce Trump’s “reckless and provocative statements,” describing them as serious violations of the UN Charter and international law.

In the letter, Iran stated that any attempt to incite or justify internal unrest as a pretext for external pressure or military intervention would constitute a grave breach of the country’s sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity. The letter affirmed Iran’s right to defend its sovereignty and held the United States fully responsible for any consequences or escalation arising from Trump’s threats.

The correspondence came amid widespread protests in Iran over rising living costs, during which six people have reportedly been killed in clashes with security forces.

A senior Iranian security official has warned former U.S. President Donald Trump not to interfere in Iran’s ongoing protests. Speaking to local media on Friday, the official said any U.S. involvement in Iran’s internal affairs would destabilize the entire region and would be met with a strong response. The warning followed Trump’s post on his social media platform Truth Social, where he stated that the United States was ready to act if Iranian authorities violently suppressed peaceful demonstrators.

The protests, now in their fifth consecutive day, have spread to more than a dozen cities including Tehran, Isfahan, Lorestan, Mazandaran, Khuzestan, Hamadan, and Fars. Local sources reported at least seven deaths in clashes between protesters and security forces. Demonstrators have been calling for the resignation of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and an end to the current political system.

The exchange of warnings between Washington and Tehran underscores rising tensions amid expanding unrest across Iran, with both sides signaling readiness for escalation if violence intensifies.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the United States would intervene if Iran used force to suppress peaceful demonstrations. In a social media post on Friday, he stated that Washington would act to protect protesters if they were shot or killed. The statement was reported by Reuters.

The warning came as Iran entered its sixth consecutive day of protests over rising living costs. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces have left six people dead, while authorities arrested 30 protesters on charges of creating disorder and damaging public property. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that in Azna city of Lorestan province, about 300 kilometers southwest of Tehran, three people were killed and 17 injured. In Lordegan city, around 470 kilometers south of Tehran, two others were killed during the protests.

The continuing unrest and Trump’s remarks signal growing international attention to Iran’s domestic turmoil, though no immediate U.S. action was reported.

Iran has been rocked by widespread protests over rising living costs, continuing for a fifth consecutive day on Thursday. Thousands of people joined demonstrations across the country, with the death toll rising to six. Authorities have arrested 30 protesters on charges of creating disorder and damaging public property, according to Al Jazeera.

Semi-official news agency Fars reported that in Azna city of Lorestan province, about 300 kilometers southwest of Tehran, at least three people were killed and 17 injured. Two others were killed in Lordegan city of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, around 470 kilometers south of the capital. State television said a security officer was killed earlier in Kuhdasht city in the west. Videos shared online showed fires burning in the streets and sounds of gunfire.

Police used tear gas to disperse protesters after some reportedly threw stones at government offices, mosques, and banks. The demonstrations began on December 29 in response to the rising cost of living and have since spread to multiple regions.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Iran will not bow to any pressure or threat, speaking at a ceremony marking the death anniversary of former Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani. The event, reported by Press TV, underscored Iran’s commitment to follow the path shown by its slain commanders, despite external challenges from the United States and Israel.

Pezeshkian described Soleimani as a role model who stood for truth and justice without personal gain. He pledged that Iran would continue on the path of its martyrs with full strength and would not fear sacrifice for the nation, revolution, or national interests. Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020.

The president also sharply criticized the United States and Israel, accusing them of engaging in “state terrorism” under the guise of democracy and freedom. The remarks reinforced Iran’s stance of resistance and defiance amid ongoing tensions with these countries.

Two people were killed on Thursday in clashes between protesters and security forces in southwestern Iran amid ongoing demonstrations against high inflation and economic hardship. According to state media, these were the first fatalities reported after several days of unrest. The incident occurred in Lordegan city of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, where protesters reportedly threw stones at government and public buildings, prompting police to use tear gas. An unspecified number of people were injured.

State sources said one of the dead was a 21-year-old member of the Basij militia, though Reuters could not independently verify the claim. The Basij, linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that 13 of its members were injured and accused some groups of exploiting the protests. The unrest began after shopkeepers’ demonstrations in Kuhdasht, Lorestan province, and later spread to several other regions including Fars, Kermanshah, Khuzestan, and Hamedan.

Iran’s economy has been under prolonged strain from Western sanctions, with inflation exceeding 40 percent. Tehran has proposed dialogue with trade unions and business representatives to address the crisis, while reports indicate heavy security presence, arrests, and continued clashes in multiple cities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House late last month to discuss the possibility of launching another military strike on Iran. Reports from international media said the talks focused on Iran’s nuclear program, missile capabilities, and regional security concerns, which have intensified in recent weeks.

According to Anadolu Agency, Netanyahu raised Israel’s concerns over Iran’s nuclear and missile development and mentioned Hezbollah’s efforts to rebuild its long-range missile stockpile in Lebanon. Axios reported, citing a U.S. official, that a potential second round of attacks on Iran in 2026 was discussed. The previous June saw a 12-day conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. Trump had then warned that any renewed Iranian nuclear activity would be met with destruction.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned of a strong response to any aggression, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged Trump to return to dialogue under a “respectful environment.”

Widespread protests and strikes in Iran over inflation and the sharp fall of the national currency have expanded to several cities, including Tehran, Karaj, Hamedan, Qeshm, Malard, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Shiraz, and Yazd. On Wednesday, the fourth day of demonstrations, police used tear gas to disperse protesters. The unrest began on Sunday after the Iranian rial hit a record low against the US dollar in Tehran’s open market, prompting shopkeepers to join the movement.

The Iranian government has expressed sympathy toward the protesters’ demands, stating that their concerns will be heard patiently despite the difficult circumstances. University students have also joined the demonstrations, chanting slogans against the government, which observers view as a significant challenge for the authorities.

According to BBC reports cited in the source, the country’s worsening economic situation and currency devaluation have caused deep public anxiety, fueling the ongoing protests.

Protests have spread across Iran as citizens demonstrate against the worsening economic crisis, currency collapse, and rising cost of living. In response, President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on the public to remain united in the face of sanctions and external threats. Speaking at a business forum in Tehran, he blamed foreign interference for the economic instability and said the country was engaged in a 'full-scale war' driven by economic pressure rather than military force.

Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran’s adversaries were attempting to bring the nation down through economic means, but insisted that unity and determination would prevent the country from being subdued. Iran’s economy has faced severe challenges since the reimposition of U.S. sanctions in 2018, following Washington’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal. In September, European nations also moved to restore UN sanctions, accusing Tehran of violating the 2015 agreement, a move that came months after Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

By the end of 2025, Iran’s currency, the rial, had lost about half its value against the dollar, with inflation reaching nearly 50 percent in December.

Widespread protests have erupted across Iran since Sunday in response to the country’s worsening economic crisis and surging cost of living. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets after a sharp fall in the national currency, with unrest spreading from Tehran to several provinces. In Fars province, protesters attempted to enter a local government building, while clashes were reported in multiple cities. Authorities in Tehran declared a bank holiday on Wednesday to control the situation, but tensions persisted.

In Lorestan province, one paramilitary officer was reported killed, and in Fasa city, three police officers were injured and four people arrested. Verified videos shared on social media showed protesters breaking the gate of the governor’s office in Fasa and security forces firing shots. The government announced the closure of schools, universities, and public offices nationwide, officially citing energy-saving measures during winter, though many Iranians viewed it as a tactic to suppress protests.

The demonstrations began after a sharp depreciation of the Iranian currency against the dollar in Tehran’s market, initially led by shopkeepers and later joined by university students, spreading to several cities against the country’s religious leadership.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has sharply condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed threat of military action against Iran. In a post on social media platform X on December 30, Pezeshkian warned that any aggression against the Islamic Republic would be met with a severe and regretful response.

Trump made the remarks a day earlier in Florida during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the United States would have no choice but to eliminate Iran if it tried to reorganize. He also suggested that any future U.S. strikes could be stronger than before. Analysts described this as Trump’s first open and direct military threat against Iran’s conventional missile program, a key element of the country’s defense policy.

The report recalled that in June, the United States joined an Israeli military operation targeting three Iranian nuclear sites. Trump had then claimed Iran could produce a nuclear weapon within two months, a statement that contradicted assurances from the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iranian officials, who maintain that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and focused on energy and medical development.

Iran launched three remote-sensing satellites—Tolou-3, Zafar-2, and Kowsar-1.5—into orbit on Sunday from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome. The satellites were carried aboard a Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle as part of a multi-payload mission. This marks the seventh time Iran has used a Russian rocket for satellite deployment, according to the Mehr news agency.

Hassan Salarieh, head of Iran’s Space Agency, said the launch signals a bright future for the country’s space sector and is the first instance of Iran sending multiple satellites into space simultaneously. Among the satellites, Tolou-3 is Iran’s heaviest and most advanced observation satellite to date, weighing 150 kilograms. About 80 percent of its components were manufactured domestically, representing a major step toward the localization of satellite cluster technology.

Iran also plans to launch its first telecommunications satellite cluster, named “Shahid Soleimani,” next year, continuing its efforts to expand national space capabilities.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Saturday that the United States, Israel, and Europe are conducting a “full-fledged war” against Iran. His remarks were published on the official website of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, just days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump. Pezeshkian said Iran’s military forces are stronger than before despite challenges and warned that any new attack would face a decisive response.

The statement follows a series of confrontations, including Israeli and US strikes on Iran six months ago and the reimposition of United Nations sanctions by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom over Tehran’s nuclear program. Pezeshkian compared the current situation to the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq war, calling it more complex and difficult. The US and its allies accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies.

Recent tensions include a 12-day war in June between Israel and Iran that left more than 1,000 casualties, followed by US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Trump’s administration has reinstated the “maximum pressure” policy, and Netanyahu is expected to urge further military action against Iran’s missile program during his upcoming visit.

Iranian authorities reportedly carried out missile drills across several cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, Khorramabad, and Mahabad, earlier this week. Semi-official media outlets such as Fars and Nour News released footage and reports of the exercises, though Iran’s state broadcaster denied any missile launches, claiming the circulating images were unrelated to military testing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed concern over Iran’s expanding missile activities, stating that Israel is taking necessary precautions. According to NBC News, Netanyahu plans to brief U.S. President Donald Trump on Iran’s missile program and other threats during his upcoming visit to Washington. Israeli officials have warned that they view Iran’s actions as a potential security threat requiring swift response if necessary.

Western nations continue to view Iran’s missile capabilities as a destabilizing factor in the Middle East, fearing that such systems could eventually be adapted to deliver nuclear warheads. The latest drills follow similar exercises by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards earlier this month in the Persian Gulf.