According to a report from state television, "the government of Iran declares a three-day mourning period in honor of the martyrs who died in the struggle against the United States and the Zionist regime." Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged all citizens to participate in the national resistance march and condemn violence, emphasizing that he will not allow rebels to destroy the country. He also accused the U.S. and Israel of organizing mass protests.
The protests in Iran began in late December 2025 and are linked to the collapse of the national currency and a sharp rise in prices. Participants in the demonstrations are demanding a change of the existing political regime and the return to power of Reza Pahlavi—the son of the Shah who was overthrown in 1979. According to the human rights organization HRANA, since the beginning of the protests, the number of fatalities has reached at least 538 people, including 48 security personnel. More than 10,600 people have been arrested, and the internet has been shut down for more than three days.
