Iran Rocked by Protests and Clashes; Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi Calls for International Support

Iran has been gripped by widespread protests for five consecutive days amid soaring inflation and a record collapse of the national currency, the rial. Authorities say a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was killed in clashes in Lorestan province, while several police officers were injured during unrest in Fars province. Protesters allege police opened fire directly at demonstrators.

According to local reports, on Wednesday (December 31) protesters in Fars attempted to break through the gate of a government building, triggering violent confrontations. Security forces reportedly fired live ammunition and detained several people, while police claimed multiple officers were wounded. Separately, the IRGC confirmed the death of one of its members in Lorestan.

On Thursday (January 1), protests entered a fifth day across cities including Tehran, Karaj and Hamedan. Earlier, amid mounting pressure, Central Bank Governor Mohammad Reza Farzin resigned and was replaced by Abdolnaser Hemmati in an effort to stabilize the economy.

Against this backdrop, exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi issued a New Year message expressing solidarity with protesters and urging the international community to intervene.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for national unity, blamed foreign pressure for the unrest, and ordered security forces to tighten measures. “We are engaged in a full-scale war—primarily economic,” he said, adding that unity would prevent Iran from being forced to its knees.

The protests erupted nationwide after the rial plunged to a historic low against the U.S. dollar in Tehran’s open market last Sunday, sparking strikes and demonstrations across the country.