Tehran (Washington Insider Megazines) – 22 January 2026 –
Protests erupted across Iran on 28 December 2025, triggered by soaring prices
and economic collapse, evolving into widespread demonstrations against the
government led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian women have taken prominent
roles at the forefront of these protests, reviving elements of the 2022 Women,
Life, Freedom movement. State media reported 3,117 deaths in the unrest,
including 2,427 civilians and security forces, while human rights groups cite
higher figures exceeding 4,500.
Protests began in Tehran on 28 December 2025, in response to
economic hardships including soaring prices and a collapsing economy. The
demonstrations quickly spread nationwide, transforming into a mass movement
challenging the theocratic government under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei.
Iranian state television aired a statement from the Martyrs
Foundation on 20 January 2026, confirming 3,117 people killed since the
protests started, with 2,427 identified as civilians and security forces.
Economic Triggers Ignite Nationwide Demonstrations
Credit: prismnews.com
The initial spark came from public frustration over rapid
economic decline, with protests and strikes reported across multiple cities
within days. Videos and eyewitness accounts show demonstrators chanting against
the regime, with participation from youth and women defying restrictions. By
early January 2026, the unrest had reached at least 16 provinces, marking the
largest wave since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Security forces responded with live fire, tear gas, and
arrests, leading to significant casualties. The US-based Human Rights Activists
News Agency (HRANA) documented 4,560 deaths as of late January 2026, relying on
a network of activists inside Iran. Most victims were under 30, reflecting
Iran’s young population from the post-1979 baby boom.
An internet blackout imposed since 8 January 2026 has
limited information flow, but smuggled videos depict security forces targeting
protesters. Nearly 26,500 arrests have occurred, according to HRANA.
Women Emerge as Key Figures in Protests
Women have led many demonstrations, openly rejecting hijab
mandates and state authority over personal freedoms. A viral trend shows
Iranian women lighting cigarettes to burn images of Ayatollah Khamenei, shared
on platforms like X, Reddit, Instagram, and Telegram despite illegality.
Observers note these acts as deliberate defiance against religious and
governmental controls.
Named victims include Akram Pirgazi, 40, a mother of two reported
as the first woman killed; Rebin Moradi, 17, a footballer; and Robina Aminian,
23, a fashion design student shot in the head during a rally. Aminian’s uncle
stated she sought freedom and women’s rights.
A widely shared video features an elderly woman, bloodied
but shouting, “I’m not afraid. I have been dead for 47 years,”
referencing the regime’s duration since 1979. Women activists and youth
campaigners remain at the forefront, as reported by France 24.
Government Response and Casualty Figures
Credit: EPA
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addressed the
protests in a Wall Street Journal column, claiming the violent phase lasted
less than 72 hours and blaming armed demonstrators. He warned of retaliation
against potential external attacks, referencing unused missile stockpiles.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described the protests
as leaving “several thousand” dead, attributing unrest to the UnitedStates. State media’s 3,117 death toll contrasts with HRANA’s 4,560 and other
estimates up to 6,000 by early January.
On 8 January 2026, at least 217 deaths occurred in Tehran
alone, with bodies reportedly removed by security forces. HRANA confirmed 135
security personnel killed as of 18 January 2026.
Historical Context of Women’s Resistance
The current protests build on the 2022 Mahsa Amini uprising,
sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in morality police custody for
improper hijab wearing. Eyewitnesses alleged beating, denied by authorities;
protests spread from Saqqez to nationwide, demanding women’s rights and regime
overthrow.
That movement, under “Woman, Life, Freedom,” saw
female protesters, including schoolchildren, play key roles amid internet
blackouts and gunfire. Over 500 killed and 20,000 arrested then, with ongoing
repression including executions and hijab enforcement.
Women participated crucially in the 1979 revolution but faced
rights rollbacks post-victory, including travel restrictions by husbands and
hijab punishments from fines to flogging. The 2025-2026 wave revives this
resistance, with women positioned centrally in calls for democratic change.
International Reactions and Regional Tensions
Credit: Reuters
US President Donald Trump set red lines against protester
killings and executions, amid Gulf Arab lobbying against strikes. The USS
Abraham Lincoln carrier group moved toward the Middle East, with F-15E jets and
HIMARS systems deployed.
Iran shut airspace in anticipation and attacked a Kurdish
dissident base in Iraq, killing one fighter, as claimed by the National Army of
Kurdistan. Araghchi’s Davos invitation was rescinded over the crackdown.
Human rights groups condemned the “brutal and
disproportionate” force, with families of killed protesters detained or
silenced. Protests continue to expose regime challenges, with women sustaining
defiance.
