The protests began on 28 December 2025 in Tehran amid economic hardship and quickly spread to all 31 provinces in Iran with anti-government slogans and calls for regime change. The government reacted with violent crackdowns and thousands of arrests, using live ammunition against protesters. The number of civilians killed is unclear due to the internet and phone blackout the government implemented as part of their suppression. Reports indicate that the number of casualties ranges between 2,000 and 20,000 people. Nobel Peace Prize winner
Shirin Ebadi referred to the mass killings as a planned "massacre under the cover of a sweeping communications blackout". The Islamic Republic refers to protesters against the government as
moharebeh (a term meaning "war against God"), and their actions are punishable by death. In reaction to the recent anti-government protests,
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said "rioters must be put in their place".
Mohammad Movahedi Azad, Iran's attorney general, warned that protesters are an "
enemy of God", a crime punishable by death under Iranian law. Human rights groups say Iran is the world's second-largest user of capital punishment after China, with at least 1,500 hangings recorded last year, according to Iran Human Rights. == Arrest and detention ==