Anti-Iranian regime protesters outside the Iranian Embassy in London on Jan. 12, 2026. Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images
By late December 2025, Iran’s economy was on the verge of collapse. A steep drop in the value of the Iranian rial triggered widespread shortages and soaring prices, sparking nationwide protests that quickly escalated from economic grievances into open rebellion against the country’s theocratic regime.
Demonstrators not only burned symbols of the regime but also openly called for Iranian leader Ali Khamenei to step down. Social media footage has shown large crowds on the streets of Tehran, Iran, and other cities.
