Iran Rocked by Biggest Protests in Years Amid Economic Collapse, Political Anger

• Iran faces its most serious street unrest in three years, with protests erupting across major cities like Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, and Shiraz.
• The protests are fueled by a plunging Iranian rial (crashed past 42,000 to the US dollar), surging inflation (over 42%), and soaring prices of basic necessities.
• Demonstrators are openly chanting "Mullahs must leave Iran" and "death to the dictatorship," indicating deep political anger against the clerical regime.
• The unrest is seen as a result of decades of mismanagement, corruption, and the impact of US sanctions, particularly Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign.
• The situation poses a major challenge to Iran's leadership, raising questions about the effectiveness of US pressure and the future of the Islamic Republic.

Why It Matters: Iran's widespread protests highlight deep economic and political discontent, challenging the clerical regime.