Tehran has witnessed limited protest activity over the past week, driven primarily by economic pressures linked to the sharp rise in foreign exchange rates—particularly the US dollar—according to Iranian affairs expert Hasan Haidar.
Speaking to Al-Manar TV, Haidar said the demonstrations emerged amid growing public concern over the deteriorating cost of living, citing informed sources who confirmed that the protests were economic in nature rather than political.
The initial gatherings were concentrated in the traditional bazaar district in southern Tehran, where several merchants took to nearby streets to voice objections to worsening living conditions and the impact of currency volatility on trade and daily life.
Iranian officials, including the country’s leadership, the Interior Ministry, and President Ebrahim Raisi, have repeatedly addressed the issue over the past week. In their statements, they emphasized that the recent protests stem from economic grievances and affirmed that demands related to living standards and objections to the sharp fluctuations in exchange rates are legitimate.
Officials stressed that citizens have the right to express such concerns, provided they do so within the bounds of the law, underscoring the government’s recognition of the underlying economic challenges facing segments of the population.
Israel's Persian-language X account uses AI to create footage from what it claims to be Iran's protests, except they fail to alter the police officer's Israeli badge.
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Ayatollah Khamenei Affirms Legitimacy
Earlier on Saturday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Sayyed Ali Khamenei described the recent devaluation of Iran’s national currency as “unnatural,” attributing it to hostile external interference, while affirming that economic demands raised by citizens are legitimate.
Ayatollah Khamenei says that protest is different from riot, adding that while officials must talk with protesters, there is no point in talking with those who engage in riots.
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Speaking during a meeting with families of martyrs, including the family of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the recent unrest that began at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, stressing that the bazaari class has historically been among the most loyal segments of Iranian society and that economic grievances should not be conflated with opposition to the Islamic system.
Source: Al-Manar Website