Iran Unrest Deepens With At Least 7 Dead as Trump Threatens Action and Tehran Issues Warnings

Overview

• Demonstrations that began with a merchants’ strike in Tehran spread nationwide, driven by soaring prices and a sharp currency slide reported at roughly 50% annual inflation and a one‑third to one‑half loss in the rial’s value in 2025.
• Local and state-linked outlets report at least seven fatalities, including two civilians in Lordegan, three people in Azna after an attack on a police station, and a 21-year-old Basij member in Kuhdasht, with about 30 detentions in the Tehran district of Malard.
• Authorities signal limited outreach as the government acknowledges grievances, while the prosecutor-general warns of a firm response to unrest and police say they will not allow protests to turn into "chaos."
• President Donald Trump said the United States is "ready to act" if peaceful demonstrators are killed, drawing sharp pushback from Iranian officials who called intervention a "red line" and warned U.S. forces in the region could be targeted.
• The protests are described by multiple outlets as the most significant since 2022, with clashes, property damage in several towns including Fasa, and continued security operations as Tehran seeks to contain the unrest.