Economic crisis, mass protests, Trump threat: Can Iran go the Venezuela way?

Team TOI Plus
Jan 7, 2026 | 14:30 IST
Illustration: AI

At least 35 people have been killed in the ongoing unrest in Iran. Trump last week warned of potential US intervention if Tehran continues to kill protesters, a possibility that can’t be ruled out yet after the Venezuela episode

Sanctions-hit Iran is struggling to contain a massive anti-government protest, the biggest since 2022, sparked by economic turmoil linked to a sharp decline in the value of the national currency, the rial, against the US dollar. This financial crisis is compounded by skyrocketing prices, shortages, and a dramatic erosion of purchasing power for ordinary Iranians.

The ongoing demonstrations mark a shift from the previous mass protests, especially the one in 2022, which was fuelled by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. She was detained for not wearing her hijab, or headscarf.
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