At least 25 people have been killed in Iran during the first nine days of protests that began in Tehran’s bazaar over the plunging value of the currency and soaring inflation, according to rights groups.

The protests have spread to some cities in western and southern Iran but do not match the scale of the unrest that swept the country in 2022–23 following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code.

However, despite being smaller, the protests have quickly expanded from economic grievances to broader frustrations, with some demonstrators chanting against the country’s clerical rulers.

More than 1,000 arrested, rights groups say

Iran is also under renewed international pressure, with US President Donald Trump saying on Friday he would come to the aid of protesters if Iranian security forces fired on them. In response, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed not to “yield to the enemy”.

Hengaw, a Kurdish Iranian rights group, put the death toll at 25, including four people under the age of 18, and said more than 1,000 people had been arrested.

HRANA, a network of rights activists, said at least 29 people had been killed, including two members of the security forces, and that 1,203 people had been arrested as of Jan. 5.

Reuters has not been able to independently verify the figures.

Iranian authorities have not released a death toll for protesters but have said at least two members of the security services have died and more than a dozen have been injured.

“While drawing a distinction between protesters and rioters, law enforcement has dealt firmly with rioters by arresting them at the scene or later following identification by intelligence units,” police chief Ahmadreza Radan was quoted by state media as saying on Tuesday.

“I pledge that we will deal with the last of these rioters. It is still time for those deceived by foreign services to identify themselves and return to the Islamic Republic’s greatness,” he said.

Government promises reforms to protect purchasing power

HRANA said protest slogans had gone beyond economic demands to include criticism of governance and calls for justice. Demonstrations have occurred in 27 of Iran’s 31 provinces, spreading to smaller cities.

Authorities have acknowledged economic hardships but accused networks linked to foreign powers of pushing economic protests toward chaos and disorder. The judiciary chief has pledged no mercy for “rioters”.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged dialogue and promised reforms to stabilise the monetary and banking systems and protect purchasing power.

The government has announced subsidy reforms that will remove preferential exchange rates for importers and replace them with direct cash transfers to citizens to help cover essential goods. The changes are due to take effect on Jan. 10.

The central bank chief was replaced on Dec. 29.

The rial fell further to 1,489,500 to the dollar on Tuesday, down about 4% since the protests began.