What to know about Iran protests as Trump warns the country's leaders

January 11, 2026 Cosmopolite
What to know about Iran protests as Trump warns the country's leaders

Anti-government demonstrations in Iran have entered their third week as human rights organizations sound the alarm over increasing deaths in a violent crackdown from authorities.

PresidentDonald Trumphas threatened to intervene, drawing a defiant response from the Iranian regime's top leaders and further ratcheting up tension between the United States and the Middle Eastern country.

Iranian leaders have accused America and Israel of fomenting the demonstrations, which began in late December over soaring prices and the abrupt collapse of Iran's national currency.

Several leading human rights and watchdog organizations in recent days condemned growing violence against demonstrators by government forces. The United Nations' independent fact-finding mission in Iran said in a Jan. 10statementit received reports that security forces were ordered to carry out a "decisive" response without restraint on the anti-government protesters.

<p style=Anti-government protests in Iran appeared to accelerate on Jan. 9, sparked by anger over the collapse of the country's currency and a broader sense of hopelessness and disillusionment with Tehran's clerical leaders.

The uptick in unrest also comes as President Donald Trump warned Iran's authorities against killing peaceful protesters, saying Washington "will come to their rescue."

See the scenes in Iran, beginning here on the streets amid anti-government unrest in Tehran, Iran, in this still image obtained from social media video released on January 8, 2026. Witnesses told Reuters protesters gathered in the streets on Thursday, January 8, however this video's date taken has not been verified.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Protesters gather as vehicles burn, amid evolving anti-government unrest, in Tehran, Iran, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video released on January 9, 2026. People tear down an Iranian flag after it was taken down in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran, in this still image obtained from a social media video released on January 8, 2026. Date when the video was filmed could not be confirmed. An overturned car and multiple fires burn as protesters chant outside a police station, during Iran's biggest demonstrations in three years over economic hardship, in Azna, Lorestan Province, Iran, in this still image obtained from a social media video released on January 1, 2026. Protesters gather amid evolving anti-government unrest in Tehran, Iran, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video released on January 9, 2026. Witnesses told Reuters protesters gathered in the streets on Thursday, January 8, however this video's date taken has not been verified. People gather on the streets amid anti-government unrest in Tehran, Iran, in this still image obtained from social media video released on January 8, 2026. The date of the videos could not be verified. Witnesses in Tehran told Reuters that protesters gathered in the streets on Thursday, January 8. People gather on the streets during a protest in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran in this screengrab obtained from a social media video released on January 8, 2026. The date could not be verified but multiple videos verified to Mashhad were posted online on January 8. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi speaks during a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, January 9, 2026. Burning debris lies in the middle of a street during unrest in Hamedan, Iran on January 1, 2026. The demonstrations erupted after shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar shut their businesses to protest the sharp fall of Iran's currency and worsening economic conditions, with clashes reported in several provinces and Iranian media and rights groups saying multiple people were killed in the violence, marking the largest protests to hit the Islamic Republic in three years. A person uses a lighter to set fire to a banner during demonstrations in Hamedan, Iran, on January 1, 2026. The demonstrations erupted after shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar shut their businesses to protest the sharp fall of Iran's currency and worsening economic conditions, with clashes reported in several provinces and Iranian media and rights groups saying multiple people were killed in the violence, marking the largest protests to hit the Islamic Republic in three years. Burning debris lies next to an overturned dumpster in the middle of a street during unrest amid demonstrations in Hamedan, Iran, on January 1, 2026. The demonstrations erupted after shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar shut their businesses to protest the sharp fall of Iran's currency and worsening economic conditions, with clashes reported in several provinces and Iranian media and rights groups saying multiple people were killed in the violence, marking the largest protests to hit the Islamic Republic in three years. Rocks, tree branches, and a toppled charity box remain on a street during unrest amid demonstrations in Hamedan, Iran, on January 1, 2026. The demonstrations erupted after shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar shut their businesses to protest the sharp fall of Iran's currency and worsening economic conditions, with clashes reported in several provinces and Iranian media and rights groups saying multiple people were killed in the violence, marking the largest protests to hit the Islamic Republic in three years. A protester flashes victory signs as traffic slows during demonstrations in Hamedan, Iran, on January 1, 2026. The demonstrations erupted after shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar shut their businesses to protest the sharp fall of Iran's currency and worsening economic conditions, with clashes reported in several provinces and Iranian media and rights groups saying multiple people were killed in the violence, marking the largest protests to hit the Islamic Republic in three years. Security forces detain protesters outside a commercial building on Ahmadabad Street in Mashhad, Iran on January 3, 2026. Iran has experienced recurrent waves of protests in recent years driven by political repression, economic hardship, rising living costs, and restrictions on civil and social freedoms, including women's rights. Demonstrations have frequently been met with arrests, heavy security deployments, internet disruptions, and, according to activists and rights groups, the killing of protesters, as authorities move to suppress dissent. People walk down the street, chanting in Farsi, Demonstrators attempt to force a gate open to gain access to a building during a protest in Fasa, Iran, in this still image obtained from a social media video released on December 31, 2025.

See Iran's anti-government protests, huge crowds, unrest in photos

Anti-government protests in Iranappeared to accelerate on Jan. 9, sparked by anger over the collapse of the country's currency and a broader sense of hopelessness and disillusionment with Tehran's clerical leaders.

The uptick in unrest also comes as PresidentDonald Trumpwarned Iran's authorities against killing peaceful protesters, sayingWashington "will come to their rescue."See the scenes in Iran, beginning here on the streets amid anti-government unrest in Tehran, Iran, in this still image obtained from social media video released on January 8, 2026. Witnesses told Reuters protesters gathered in the streets on Thursday, January 8, however this video's date taken has not been verified.

U.S. officials have held preliminary conversations with Trump about taking military action against the Iranian regime, according tomultiplemedia reports.

The White House did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's requests for comment.

Here's what to know about the ongoing protests.

Why are Iranians protesting?

Iranians took to the streets in late December as their currency, the rial, suddenly crashed, and inflation reached over 40%. The economic pressure has reignited many longstanding grievances with the Islamic Republic's clerical establishment, marking the most expansive civil unrest in the country in several years.

Demonstrations have reached their peak so far over the weekend, according to the U.S.-basedHuman Rights Activists News Agency. On Jan. 10, protests were held in 96 cities across 27 provinces. Shortly before midnight Tehran time on Jan. 11, the group tracked protests in 186 cities across all of the nation's 31 provinces.

Burning debris lies in the middle of a street during unrest in Hamedan, Iran on January 1, 2026. The demonstrations erupted after shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar shut their businesses to protest the sharp fall of Iran's currency and worsening economic conditions, with clashes reported in several provinces and Iranian media and rights groups saying multiple people were killed in the violence, marking the largest protests to hit the Islamic Republic in three years.

In some videos of the demonstrations,protesters can be heardcalling for the overthrow of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the return of the exiled son of Iran's last king, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. Iran's last shah, as he is known, was overthrown by Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. His son and heir, alsoReza Pahlavi, lives in Virginia.

The protests and violent response are reminiscent of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests that rocked the country in 2022 and 2023, ignited by thedeath of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old woman died while in police custody after being detained for allegedly violating dress codes.

How many injuries and fatalities have been recorded?

Norway-based organizationIran Human Rightssaid on Jan. 11 it has confirmed at least 192 protesters have been killed since the start of the demonstrations. The group says unverified reports place the toll in the hundreds to low-thousands, and ongoing internet restrictions make verification methods challenging.

TheHuman Rights Activists News Agency's latest death toll estimates surpassed 580 people as of Jan. 11, and more than 10,600 people detained by authorities.

Iran has not provided any official figures. A government-imposedinternet blackouthas cut off much communication with those inside the country since Jan. 8, impeding the flow of information.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran January 3, 2026.

How has Trump responded?

Trump has repeatedly warned Iran's leaders against killing protesters and has in recent weeks ramped up his threats.

Trumpsaid on Jan. 2that the United States would come to the rescue "if Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom." A week later on Jan. 9, Trump warned Tehran in comments to reporters, "You better not start shooting because we'll start shooting too."

Most recently on Jan. 10, the president said on social media: "Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!"

President Donald Trump wearing a

What do Iranian leaders say?

In his first major address to the nation since the demonstrations erupted, Iran's supreme leader on Jan. 9 said Trump should focus on problems in his own country, without elaborating. Khamenei also accused Iran's protesters of "ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy."

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned Washington against "a miscalculation" in an interview the following day.

"Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories (Israel) as well as all U.S. bases and ships will be our legitimate target," Qalibaf said, according to Reuters reports.

Contributing: Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY; Reuters.

Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her atkapalmer@usatoday.comand on X @KathrynPlmr. Sign up for her daily politics newsletterhere.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What to know about Iran protests and Trump

 

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