Iran has become the center of renewed regional and international attention as antigovernment protests enter their third week, driven by a deepening economic crisis. Demonstrations across multiple cities have included burning vehicles and clashes with security forces. President Masoud Pezeshkian has acknowledged public anger and affirmed the right to peaceful protest, while condemning violence he says is tied to foreign influence. Authorities have also warned that any outside military action would be met with retaliation, signaling that unrest has not weakened Iran’s regional posture.

The protests are rooted in long-standing economic strain. Years of sanctions, inflation, a collapsing currency, and high unemployment have led to rising food and fuel prices and declining living standards. Pezeshkian has admitted the hardships are real and promised reforms, but many remain skeptical, viewing the crisis as a sign of deeper governance failures rather than a temporary downturn.

The human cost has become highly contested. State-linked Tasnim reported that “at least 109 members of Iran’s security forces have been killed,” emphasizing violent attacks on police. Activists and human rights groups counter that many civilians have also died, accusing authorities of hiding the true toll through internet restrictions and media limits.

Information itself has become a battleground. Foreign outlets often portray the protests as nationwide and escalating, while accounts inside Iran describe uneven participation and fluctuating momentum, creating sharply different perceptions.

Officials have framed parts of the unrest as foreign-backed, claiming some protesters are “well-trained” and linked to outside intelligence services. Critics argue this narrative dismisses genuine economic grievances. As Tehran warns the U.S. and Israel against intervention, Iran faces overlapping crises that will shape its future stability and direction.