Since December 28, mass protests have been ongoing in Iran, triggered by the sharp collapse of the national currency and soaring inflation. The first actions were launched by merchants at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, but within a few days the protests spread across nearly the entire country. Ten days after the unrest began, opposition sources reported that two cities in western Iran: Abdanan and Malekshahi had come under the control of protesters. State media do not confirm this information and claim that the demonstrations were dispersed by law enforcement forces.
Seizure of cities and clashes with security forces
On January 7, Fox News reported, citing the National Council of Resistance of Iran, that protesters had taken control of Abdanan and Malekshahi. According to Ali Safavi, a representative of the Iranian opposition in exile, people in both cities took to the streets chanting “Death to Khamenei.”
The president of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, Maryam Rajavi, said on the social media platform X that protesters had “forced the repressors to retreat” and expressed support for those taking part in the demonstrations.
Abdanan is located in Ilam Province in western Iran, near the border with Iraq. Malekshahi lies about 100 kilometers away. According to opposition sources, fighters from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempted to disperse demonstrators in Abdanan, after which protesters set fire to a store belonging to the Ofogh Kourosh retail chain, which is linked to the IRGC.
In Malekshahi, clashes began during the funeral of Fares Agha Mohammadi, who was killed in the previous days. Local sources claim that after protesters took control of Abdanan, police officers began joining the demonstrators.
Authorities’ response and the official narrative
Iranian state news agencies deny that control over the cities was lost. The Irna news agency reports that police used tear gas in Abdanan to disperse protesters, while Tasnim claims that demonstrators later dispersed and that “peace and security” were quickly restored.
Iranian authorities have not issued separate statements regarding the alleged seizure of Abdanan and Malekshahi. However, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi responded to remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who said the United States was ready to “come to the aid” of Iranian protesters, stating that “Iran’s internal affairs concern no one but its people.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei commented on the protests only once, on January 3. He acknowledged the existence of economic problems but attributed currency instability to the “work of the enemy.” According to him, “protest is justified,” but “riots are unacceptable,” and there is “nothing to discuss with vandals.”
Scale of the protests and casualties
According to BBC Verify, protests have affected at least 17 of Iran’s 31 provinces. In Tehran, demonstrations by merchants at the Grand Bazaar continue, joined by students. In several districts of the capital, protests have escalated into clashes with regime security forces.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 36 people were killed during the first ten days of protests — 34 protesters and two members of the security forces. More than 2,000 people have been arrested. Human rights activists have documented protests in 27 provinces and at 22 universities across the country.
Opposition in exile
Iranian opposition leader in exile Reza Pahlavi has voiced support for the protests. In an op-ed published on January 6 in The Washington Post, he wrote that Iran has found itself “on the brink of profound transformation” and in its most vulnerable position since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Pahlavi also said he is ready to lead a transition period and called for the unification of the country’s democratic forces.
