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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Kate Lamb

Iran protests: what we know so far about the spiralling anti-government demonstrations

Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, 9 January 2026.
Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, 9 January 2026. Photograph: AP

Escalating protests have swept through Iran in recent weeks, sparked by an economic crisis that has evolved into a widespread anti-government movement, and one of the most destabilising episodes of unrest the Iranian regime has faced in years.

Despite the internet blackout, reports have emerged that at least 2,000 people have been killed during the demonstrations, with hundreds of protesters sustaining gun shot wounds to the head and eyes. The Iranian government has accused the US of seeking to manufacture a pretext for military intervention, as US president Donald Trump has pledged that “help is on its way”.

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