Iranian security forces have detained more than 100 people accused of orchestrating and participating in violent riots in western Tehran, as authorities move to contain escalating unrest triggered by economic hardship and currency collapse.
Murad Moradi Karnachi, head of the Baharestan district in Tehran province, said those arrested included key figures behind the violence. Speaking to Tasnim News Agency, he said the detainees were accused of violating public order and using firearms and bladed weapons against civilians and law enforcement officers.
The unrest began on December 29, 2025, when merchants launched protests in central Tehran over the sharp decline of the Iranian rial. According to Fars News Agency, protesting shop owners urged others to close their businesses and join demonstrations, amplifying economic pressure on the capital.
The protests quickly expanded beyond the commercial sector. On December 30, students from several Tehran universities joined the demonstrations. By early January, violence had spread to other regions. Mehr News Agency reported that armed, masked individuals appeared in the streets of Ilam province on January 2, marking a significant escalation.
Clashes between protesters and security forces intensified in recent days, particularly in Iran’s western provinces. The unrest reached its deadliest point on January 8, when at least 11 civilians, including a child, were killed. Several members of the security forces also lost their lives.
Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani said the violence caused extensive damage to public and private property. According to official figures, rioters set fire to 25 mosques, looted 26 banks, three hospitals and ten government buildings, and destroyed dozens of fire engines, buses and ambulance vehicles, along with at least 24 residential apartments.
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