Iranian Officer Fatally Stabbed Near Tehran as Unrest Enters 12th Day

Overview

• Fars reported that police officer Shahin Dehghan died hours after being stabbed while responding to disturbances in Malard, west of Tehran.
• Authorities opened an investigation to identify those responsible for the stabbing, according to the state-affiliated outlet.
• The protest wave began on December 28 when Tehran merchants rallied against surging prices and the collapse of the rial.
• An AFP tally based on official statements and local press indicates demonstrations have reached 25 of Iran’s 31 provinces and caused dozens of deaths, including members of the security forces.
• Reporters characterise the unrest as the most serious challenge since the 2022–2023 protests, though smaller in scale than those events and the 2009 mobilisations, with the economic crisis and post–June 2025 war context intensifying the strain.