In Iran, protesters call for the return of the monarchy

In Iran, while the weather remained fairly calm on Wednesday in the capital, Tehran, there were important demonstrations throughout the country in about forty provincial cities, according to videos shared on social networks. In all of them, the protesters chanted slogans against power or in favor of the return of the Pahlavi monarchyoverthrown in 1979 by the revolution.

“This is the last battle, Pahlavi will return”, “This year is the year of blood, Seyed Ali (Jamenei) will be overthrown”, “We do not want the Islamic Republic”, they shouted, while others complained about the high cost of living and rampant inflation, which has become uncontrollable.

In the city of Bojnord, for example, a poor town in northeastern Iran, several thousand people demonstrated peacefully while police accompanied the crowd. Next, a small group of young people attacked a religious centerwhich caused the intervention of riot forces.

in several cities posters were burned with the effigies of the current leaders or former leaders, as well as Iranian flags with the emblem of the Islamic Republic.

Some of these concentrations degenerated into confrontations. In some provinces bordering Iraq, armed protesters shot at law enforcement, according to numerous videos.

In these regions, especially in Ilam, Lorestan or Kurdistan, many people traditionally own hunting weapons, but also weapons of war. According to the Tasnim news agency, close to the Revolutionary Guards, 590 members of the security forces, but also about 60 Islamic militiamen (Bassidj), have been injured since the beginning of the movement, more than 150 of them by shots from hunting weapons.

Riot forces responded by shooting. lead or real bullets in several locations. According to an Iranian human rights organization based abroad, more than 35 people have been killed and more than 2,000 detained since December 28.

The Iranian president has communicated that he has given the order that “as long as national security is not affected, law enforcement should not act against people who are peacefully protesting. On the contrary, the head of the police and the head of the judiciary have stated that the Government will act against the “troublemakers” every last one of them.

Reza Pahlevi, son of the former monarch overthrown in 1979, who lives in exile and whose name protesters chant, has called for people to take to the streets or chant slogans from the window of his apartment this Thursday and Friday the 9th.

Faced with what seems like a test, some restaurants, cafes and shops have already decided to close those two days. On Instagram, many people have also shared videos honoring Iran with patriotic songs. Likewise, seven Kurdish opposition groups have called for a strike this Thursday in the Kurdish-majority regions. It remains to be seen whether these calls will be heard.

All these calls come after the American president, Donald Trump, threatened twice with intervening “if the regime continued killing protesters.” Rumors immediately spread among the population about a possible American intervention against the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, or against armed forces bases.

In June 2025, during the 12-day war unleashed by Israel against Iran, President Trump declared that Ayatollah Khamenei was an “easy target” for the United States, which “did not want to kill him just yet.”

The protest movement that started December 28 with the strike of the merchants of the Grand Bazaar of Tehran, who denounce the fall of the currency and the economic instability, which has not stopped growing for 12 days. In this already difficult context, the Government carried out an economic intervention a few days ago that had the effect an unprecedented increase in the prices of basic consumer products. A very risky decision, according to some economists.

A small group of merchants had a monopoly on the importation of these products, which had caused great corruption. Some charged dollars and simply did not import the products, while others sold them at high prices in the market. In exchange, the Government decided to grant monthly aid of 10 million rials (about 6 euros) to each Iranian. A sum very insufficient to compensate for the increase in prices.

Since the announcement of price liberalization at the beginning of the week, The Iranian currency has lost 7% of its value. The pChicken meat has increased by 60%eggs 40% and cooking oil, impossible to find in stores, 200%.

This comes after the price of everyday consumer products has already increased by 100% in the last six months, and even more for some of them, such as eggs, chicken and meat.

He end of subsidies has sparked even more anger among the population, as life has become impossible for many Iranians.