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.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has reiterated that its missile program is purely defensive and not open for negotiation, dismissing external criticism over its growing arsenal. Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated at a weekly press briefing that the program was designed solely to deter attacks and protect Iran’s territorial integrity.

The statement follows heightened Israeli alarm after the June 12-day conflict, during which Israel labeled Iran’s ballistic and nuclear programs as major threats. Tehran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israeli cities following what it described as unprecedented Israeli assaults that killed over 1,000 people in Iran. Israel, in turn, reported more than 50 Iranian missile strikes that left 28 dead.

According to NBC, Iran is now rebuilding and expanding its missile production capacity, prompting fears that Israel could launch preemptive strikes to disrupt these efforts. The United States briefly joined Israel in targeting Iranian nuclear facilities before a ceasefire was declared, underscoring the fragile regional balance and the potential for renewed escalation.

Iran’s Deputy Chief of Staff Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi has accused Israel of using threats, media campaigns, and political maneuvers to conceal its defeat in a recent 12-day war. Speaking to Al-Mayadeen, Vahidi alleged that Israel’s leadership is engaged in psychological warfare to distract from its strategic failures and internal crises.

He linked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to the United States and ongoing threats against Iran to what he described as an effort to project strength amid growing isolation. According to Vahidi, Israel’s rhetoric does not reflect the real situation on the ground, and its objectives in the confrontation with Iran have not been achieved.

The comments come amid heightened regional tensions and continued diplomatic maneuvering between Tehran and Tel Aviv. Analysts suggest the exchange underscores the deepening hostility between the two nations and could influence future security alignments in the Middle East.

Iran has executed a man identified as Aghil Keshavarz after convicting him of espionage on behalf of Israel, according to the country’s judiciary. Officials stated that all legal procedures were completed before the execution, which was carried out following a court verdict that found Keshavarz guilty of collaborating with Israeli intelligence and conducting surveillance on Iranian military and security sites.

Judicial documents revealed that Keshavarz had allegedly established contact with Israel’s intelligence and security services through cyberspace, maintaining communication with the Israeli military and the Mossad. He was arrested earlier this year in the northwestern city of Urmia during April and May.

The execution comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel following a series of confrontations in mid-2025. Human rights organizations have criticized Iran’s increasing use of the death penalty in espionage-related cases, warning that such actions could further escalate regional hostilities and complicate diplomatic efforts.

The United States has imposed sanctions on 29 ships and their management companies allegedly involved in transporting Iranian crude oil and petroleum products. The US Treasury Department stated that these vessels, described as part of Iran’s 'ghost fleet,' used deceptive practices to move hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of oil in violation of existing sanctions. The ships are reportedly old, with opaque ownership structures and documentation that fails to meet international port standards.

Washington said the move aims to curb Tehran’s funding sources for its nuclear program and regional militant groups. Iran, however, insists its nuclear activities are for civilian purposes. The new sanctions come amid heightened tensions following five rounds of failed indirect nuclear talks and a 12-day air conflict in June, during which US and Israeli forces targeted Iranian nuclear facilities.

Analysts say the sanctions could further strain global energy markets and complicate diplomatic efforts to revive nuclear negotiations. The Iranian mission to the United Nations has not commented on the latest measures.

Following heavy rainfall on December 16, Iran’s Hormuz Island in the Persian Gulf witnessed its soil and coastal waters turning a striking blood-red hue. Videos of the phenomenon quickly went viral, with many comparing it to ancient descriptions of “blood rain.” The island’s iron-rich and hematite-laden terrain mixed with rainwater, creating a vivid red runoff that flowed into the sea.

Scientists, including researchers from NASA’s Earth Observatory, explained that the event was entirely natural. Hormuz Island’s geology consists of salt, gypsum, anhydrite, and other evaporitic rocks that react with rainfall to produce the intense coloration. Locally, the red soil is known as “Golak,” and the island’s multicolored landscape has earned it the nickname “Rainbow Island.”

The rare visual spectacle has sparked global curiosity, highlighting both the island’s unique mineral composition and the dynamic interplay between weather and geology. Environmental observers suggest the event could boost eco-tourism interest in the region while underscoring the importance of studying mineral-rich coastal ecosystems.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the United States for what it described as threatening behavior and potential naval blockade measures against Venezuela. In a statement reported by Mehr News Agency, Tehran accused Washington of breaching international law and United Nations principles by attempting to obstruct Venezuela’s legitimate oil exports or detain commercial vessels.

The ministry characterized such actions as state piracy and armed robbery at sea, rejecting any justification under unilateral U.S. sanctions. It reaffirmed Venezuela’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as protected under international law, warning that interference in its internal affairs was unacceptable. Iran urged the international community and the United Nations to denounce what it called illegal U.S. actions and hold Washington accountable for violating global norms.

Diplomatic observers note that Tehran’s statement underscores its alignment with Caracas amid rising tensions with Washington. Analysts warn that continued unilateral measures could heighten geopolitical friction and threaten global maritime stability.

Four people, including three members of Iran’s security forces and one civilian, were killed in an armed confrontation at a security checkpoint in Fahraj County, southeastern Iran. The incident occurred early Monday near the entrance to the county along the Zahedan–Fahraj road, according to Iran’s Mehr News Agency.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Headquarters confirmed the clash, stating that armed assailants opened fire on law enforcement personnel stationed at the checkpoint. Security and law enforcement agencies have launched a joint investigation to identify the attackers and determine their motives. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault.

The southeastern region of Iran, particularly near Kerman and Sistan-Baluchestan provinces, has seen sporadic violence involving armed groups and smugglers in recent years. Authorities have heightened security measures in the area as investigations continue into the latest deadly encounter.

Iran’s coast guard has seized a tanker carrying around six million liters of smuggled diesel in the Gulf of Oman, detaining all 18 crew members on board. The vessel was intercepted near the southern Hormozgan province after its navigation system reportedly malfunctioned, leaving it adrift. Among those detained are citizens of Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka, according to Iranian state media.

Authorities have not disclosed the nationality of the seized tanker. The operation marks the latest in a series of maritime enforcement actions by Iran against alleged fuel smuggling in regional waters. Last month, Iranian forces detained another vessel in the Persian Gulf under similar circumstances.

The seizure comes just days after the U.S. Navy captured a tanker off Venezuela’s coast, which Washington claimed was used for oil transport between Iran and Venezuela. Analysts suggest the timing underscores escalating maritime tensions and reciprocal enforcement moves between Tehran and Washington in contested shipping lanes.

Iranian security forces have detained Nobel Peace Prize laureate and women’s rights activist Narges Mohammadi in the eastern city of Mashhad, according to her foundation. The 53-year-old was arrested alongside several colleagues while attending a memorial for lawyer Khosro Alikordi, who was recently found dead under suspicious circumstances. The BBC confirmed the arrest on Saturday, December 13.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee expressed deep concern over what it called Mohammadi’s “brutal arrest,” urging Iranian authorities to disclose her whereabouts, ensure her safety, and release her unconditionally. Mohammadi, who received the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her activism against gender-based oppression, had been temporarily released from Tehran’s Evin Prison for medical treatment earlier this month. Her husband, Taghi Rahmani, said she was violently detained, calling the act a violation of human rights law.

Mohammadi has long criticized Iran’s tightening control over public and private life, denouncing surveillance, censorship, and arbitrary arrests. Her repeated detentions—13 in total—have drawn international condemnation and renewed calls for accountability from human rights organizations.

Iran is set to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government following renewed border clashes that have strained relations between the two neighbors. Tehran is preparing to host a high-level meeting on December 16–17, aiming to de-escalate tensions and restore dialogue after months of military and diplomatic standoffs.

According to Islamabad Post, this initiative is viewed as the most significant diplomatic effort yet to resolve the deadlock. Previous rounds of talks in Doha, Istanbul, and Jeddah failed to produce tangible progress. Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Muhammad Sadiq, will represent Islamabad in the upcoming discussions. Diplomatic sources indicate that both China and Russia are expected to participate, signaling broader regional concern over the instability.

Analysts note that the involvement of major powers underscores the strategic importance of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations for regional security. Observers will watch closely whether Tehran’s mediation can achieve a breakthrough where earlier efforts faltered.