Started in Tehran: Local Protests Spread Into National Crisis

American military installations across the Middle East have been placed in Iran’s crosshairs following President Trump’s warning about intervention over protests that started in Tehran and have now spread nationwide. Iran’s parliament speaker delivered the threat Friday as demonstrations continue to expand.
At least seven fatalities have been reported in protests that started in Tehran Sunday with shopkeepers voicing frustration over government policies. What started in Tehran as localized economic grievances has evolved into nationwide unrest reflecting deepening public frustration with catastrophic economic conditions.
Trump’s statement that America would intervene if Iranian forces use lethal measures against peaceful demonstrators has drawn immediate backlash from Tehran’s power structure. An adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned that US interference would trigger widespread chaos across the region.
The demonstrations that started in Tehran were driven by severe economic distress. The rial has plummeted to approximately 1.4 million per US dollar, while official statistics show inflation reached 42.5 percent in December. The issues that started in Tehran have resonated across the country as citizens nationwide face similar economic hardships.
President Pezeshkian’s administration has attempted to demonstrate openness to concerns that started in Tehran but have become national. In televised remarks, Pezeshkian invoked religious teachings to frame addressing livelihood issues as a moral imperative. However, he has been candid about his government’s limited capacity to combat the crisis. The prosecutor general has sought to validate peaceful economic protests while threatening decisive responses to security threats.