Iran Anti-Government Protests Escalate...Regime in Crisis Amid Trump’s Intervention Warning

Protests Over Economic Hardship Escalate into a Challenge to the Regime
Khamenei Vows "Harsh Crackdown", Trump Hints at Military Intervention
Human Rights Groups Report "Over 60 Dead", Western Leaders Urge Restraint

In Iran, anti-government protests triggered by economic hardship are spreading nationwide, escalating into a situation that threatens the very existence of the theocratic regime. Despite a harsh crackdown, the demonstrations have shown no signs of abating, and tensions have risen further as U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly warned of possible military intervention.

On the 8th (local time), protesters occupied an intersection at an anti-government protest held in Tehran, Iran. Citizens have been holding anti-government protests since the 28th of last month, protesting economic difficulties including the collapse of currency value and soaring prices. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to major foreign media outlets such as AFP and AP on January 9 (local time), the anti-government protests that began in the capital Tehran on the 28th of last month have continued for 13 days and have spread to major cities across the country. The protests, which began with merchants objecting to the collapse of the rial and surging prices, quickly grew in scale as university students and workers joined in. In some regions, slogans demanding regime change have even emerged. AFP reported that these protests are the largest since the 2022-2023 "anti-hijab protests."

The demonstrators marched in Tehran as well as in cities such as Tabriz and Mashhad, chanting slogans directly targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. There have even been voices expressing support for the Pahlavi dynasty, which ruled before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, indicating that the protests over economic hardship are evolving into a broader challenge to the entire system.

The Iranian authorities have responded with a hardline approach, including cutting off internet access and deploying security forces, but the number of casualties from violent clashes continues to rise. The Norway-based organization Iran Human Rights (IHR) reported that at least 51 people, including nine children, have died. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) counted 62 deaths, including both civilians and security personnel. Both organizations stated that they are verifying reports of dozens more fatalities.

Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Photo by AP

In a speech broadcast on state television, Khamenei described the protests as "acts of violence orchestrated by external forces," declaring that "the Islamic Republic will not back down." He criticized President Trump, telling him to "mind his own country's affairs." Meanwhile, Tehran prosecutors labeled the protest participants as "rioters" and raised the pressure by even mentioning the death penalty.

President Trump has been sharing videos of the expanding protests in major Iranian cities on his social media accounts, issuing a series of hardline statements. He warned that Iran's leadership is "in big trouble" and stated that the United States could intervene if security forces resume firing on protesters.

He also clarified, "This does not mean deploying ground troops, but we can strike where it hurts the most, and do so very powerfully." In an interview with Fox News, he even raised the possibility that the current Iranian regime could collapse.

Analysts note that these warnings from the United States come in the wake of the collapse of the Venezuelan regime, making it difficult for Iranian authorities to dismiss them lightly. Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah of the Pahlavi dynasty, has openly called for U.S. intervention, while Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights activist Shirin Ebadi warned that the internet shutdown "could be a prelude to a massacre."

The international community has also voiced concern. The leaders of France, the United Kingdom, and Germany issued a joint statement urging Iranian authorities to exercise restraint. With the harsh crackdown and warnings of external intervention intersecting, the situation in Iran is emerging as a destabilizing factor for the entire Middle East.