Iranian protests enter 5th day, amid widespread unrest over deepening economic crisis - militia member said killed during clashes

Protests in Iran have entered their fifth day despite attempts by the Islamic Republic’s government to crack down, after Iranian authorities confirmed the first death among security forces due to the demonstrations. 

December 31—Hamadan, western Iran
People took to the streets and clashed with repressive security forces. Residents voiced anger over injustice and demanded accountability as economic conditions continue to worsen.
Protesters chanted "Down with the dictator" and "Down with… pic.twitter.com/nSx0feWgBe

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 31, 2025

Saeed Pourali, vice-governor of Lorestan province, claimed that a member of the Basij militia, a volunteer paramilitary force affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed during protests in the city of Kouhdasht, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) southwest of Tehran on Wednesday. The 21-year-old militia member was identified as Amir Khodaïari in state media.  

“The protests that have occurred are due to economic pressures, inflation and currency fluctuations, and are an expression of livelihood concerns,” Pourali said. “The voices of citizens must be heard carefully and tactfully, but people must not allow their demands to be strained by profit-seeking individuals.” 

Pourali said that another 13 Basij members and police officers suffered injuries as a result of clashes with protesters.  

On Thursday morning, vendors at Tehran’s central fruit and vegetable market joined the protests, with people chanting slogans against the Islamic Republic’s focus on foreign policy while the country is in an economic crisis. 

“Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, my life for Iran,” protesters chanted, reflecting anger at the government’s support for proxy groups Hezbollah and Hamas. 

On Wednesday night, demonstrations continued to spread as anti-government protesters set fire to the governor’s office in Bostan al Malik in Ahvaz. Reports on social media also claimed that protesters had set fire to several other government buildings around the country, as frustration over the regime, and the severe economic situation reaches a boiling point. 

#Breaking: A few minutes ago, security forces of #Iran’s Islamic Regime raided the dormitory buildings of Shahid Beheshti University in Velenjak, north of #Tehran, to arrest multiple female students over their participation in yesterday’s anti-regime protests at the university.… pic.twitter.com/0jBYj9u3ms

— Babak Taghvaee - The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) December 31, 2025

On Wednesday, the Iranian government declared a surprise “public holiday” in what was widely viewed as an attempt to curb the growing protest movement. Businesses, university, and government offices were shut down in 21 of Iran’s 31 provinces as as result of the announcement. 

Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, the country’s prosecutor general, said that peaceful protests are legitimate, but warned against further unrest. 

"Peaceful livelihood protests are part of social and understandable realities," Movahedi-Azad told state media. "Any attempt to turn economic protests into a tool of insecurity, destruction of public property, or implementation of externally-designed scenarios will inevitably be met with a legal, proportionate and decisive response.” 

His comments came following a post by the social media account “Mossad Farsi” wrote a post in support of the protest movement. 

“Let's come out to the streets together. The time has come,” the account posted.  “We are with you. Not just from afar and verbally. We are with you in the field as well.” 

با هم به خیابان ها بیایید. وقتش رسیده. 
ما همراه شما هستیم. نه تنها از راه دور و شفاهی. در میدان نیز همراهتان هستیم.

— Mossad Farsi (@MossadSpokesman) December 29, 2025

Despite claiming to be an official account hosted by the Israeli intelligence service, the Mossad in Israel has not confirmed its ownership of the social media account. 

However, Iranian government authorities seem to be taking the claims of the account seriously, as several officials have warned against any attempt by foreign actors to influence the events in Iran. 

According to a report in the Jerusalem Post Thursday morning, Israeli defense officials are closely monitoring the situation in Iran, over fears that the regime might launch a missile attack on Israel to deflect attention from the turbulent situation in the country. Security officials assess that the Iranian regime is not interested in war, however, it appears to be attempting to rapidly rebuild its ballistic missile capabilities.

“The Iranian government has set its own priorities: first, to reestablish an offensive posture against Israel before dealing with Iran’s economic distress, water shortages, and welfare problems,” a senior military source was quoted as saying.

Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi shared a message early Thursday morning in Farsi to his social media account, praising the “honor and bravery” of the protesters. 

“I am proud of each and every one of you,” Pahlavi said. He also called for greater participation by the populace to expand the protest movement, stating, “Victory belongs to us.” 

“We need greater solidarity and to hold the streets,” Pahlavi said in his video statement. “Therefore, I ask you to use every opportunity, gathering, and event in the coming days to expand this movement. My team and I will continue to work toward mobilizing more forces, causing greater defections from the regime, and also bringing your voice to the world. Victory belongs to us.” 

هم‌میهنانم، درود بر شما و شرف و شجاعت‌تان.

جمهوری اسلامی تلاش کرد با تعطیل کردن اماکن عمومی و دانشگاه‌ها، شما را خانه‌نشین کند. اما شما شجاعانه در خیابانها ایستادید.

به تک‌تک شما افتخار می‌کنم.

نیاز به همبستگی هرچه بیشتر و حفظ خیابان‌هاست. بنابراین از شما می‌خواهم در روزهای… pic.twitter.com/W3ZIALfP7I

— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) January 1, 2026

While the civil government, under President Masoud Pezeshkian, has given several indications that it wants to pursue negotiations with the protesters, aimed at restoring calm, Pezeshkian himself has acknowledged that there is little he can do in the face of the severe economic woes and crises from government mismanagement. 

On Wednesday evening, Pezeshkian said that Iran is “engaged in a full-scale war,” attributing some of the unrest to Iran’s “enemies.” 

The protests have further destabilized the Shia Islamic country, whose government is still reeling from the effects of the 12-day Israel-Iran War in June. That war also saw the United States strike several nuclear sites believed to be used for the development of material for a covert nuclear weapons program. 

The current round of protests mark the largest such demonstrations since 2022, when people nationwide took to the streets to protest the killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained by religious police for failure to properly wear her hijab.