Iran protests explained: What’s driving the unrest?

Iran is once again witnessing protests on its streets, triggered by a severe economic squeeze as inflation surges and the rial continues to lose value. What began as protests over livelihoods—most visibly among merchants in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar—has begun to intersect with deeper questions about governance, legitimacy, and the state’s ability to manage crises.

This unrest is unfolding amid renewed U.S. sanctions, growing regional isolation, the continued dominance of the Revolutionary Guard, and the uncertainty of an impending leadership transition—factors that together place unusual strain on the Iranian system.

How deep is Iran’s economic crisis, and what makes this moment different from earlier protest cycles? How is the state balancing conciliatory signals with violent crackdowns? And what do these protests tell us about Iran’s political stability and the paths that lie ahead?

Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu

Host: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

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