TEHRAN, Iran — Protesters across Iran took to the streets Tuesday in defiance of security forces, chanting anti-government slogans in Tehran and smaller cities as the death toll from ongoing demonstrations climbed to at least 36. The unrest, which erupted 10 days ago amid a severe economic crisis, has evolved from complaints over the plummeting value of the Iranian rial into broader political demands targeting the ruling clergy and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The rial hit a record low of 1.46 million to the dollar on Tuesday, exacerbating hardships for ordinary Iranians and fueling the protests, according to analysts. HRANA, a network of rights activists, reported that 34 protesters and two security force members have been killed since the demonstrations began, with more than 2,000 arrests recorded. Dramatic videos verified by NBC News captured security forces deploying tear gas in Tehran's main bazaar, a historic marketplace where protesters scattered into narrow streets amid chants against Khamenei and the sound of gunshots.
The unrest at the bazaar carries symbolic weight for Iranian officials, as shop closures and merchant protests there played a pivotal role in the 1979 revolution that toppled the monarchy. President Masoud Pezeshkian, viewed as a relative moderate, urged last week that protesters' demands be addressed and directed the interior minister to engage with protest leaders. However, the movement remains largely leaderless and diffuse, showing no signs of abating despite Pezeshkian's mediation attempts and the heavy-handed response from security forces.
"The system has responded to these protests with a combination of conciliatory rhetoric and brute force," said Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, in a text message to reporters. "The fact that neither has worked indicates that the former falls well short of what the protesters want, and the latter has failed to deter them from expressing it."
International attention intensified last week when former U.S. President Donald Trump warned of potential American intervention if violence against protesters persisted, though he offered no specifics on possible actions. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf responded Friday on X, formerly Twitter, stating that Trump's threat rendered U.S. bases in the region "legitimate targets."
Analysts noted that Trump's remarks have amplified conspiracy theories among Iran's hardliners, who are already vigilant for foreign meddling following a 12-day war with Israel last summer, in which the U.S. military participated to some extent, leaving the country economically battered. The recent detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a key ally of Tehran, over the weekend further heightened tensions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the operation as "a clear example of state terrorism" during a Saturday call with his Venezuelan counterpart, according to the Iranian foreign ministry's website.
"What the threshold for U.S. intervention would be, or what it might look like, is not entirely clear but the leadership in Tehran is likely worried about the prospect of dealing with not just instability from below but military action from abroad," Vaez added.
On Monday, Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, head of Iran's judiciary, issued a stern warning, stating that legitimate demands would be heard but unrest creators would face severe consequences. "The main enemies of our people, meaning the American and Zionist regimes, in the current situation have officially and publicly supported chaos in our country," Mohseni-Ejei said, according to state media. He emphasized, "Now, there is no room for leniency for rioters and agitators."
Some of the most intense violence has unfolded in western Iran, particularly in the small town of Malekshahi and nearby Ilam province. The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, a Norwegian-registered Kurdish group monitoring abuses in Iran, reported that security forces fired on a crowd in Malekshahi on Saturday, killing five people and injuring over 40 others. A verified video from Hengaw showed demonstrators fleeing as gunshots echoed, with several men later returning to aid a man bleeding from a head wound.
The casualties from Saturday's clash were transported to Imam Khomeini hospital in Ilam, where security forces allegedly stormed the facility, using batons, tear gas, and live ammunition, according to Hengaw. Another verified video depicted a security officer firing into the hospital courtyard, where people had gathered behind a gate. The U.S. State Department's Farsi-language X account condemned the raid, posting the video with the message, "Hospitals are not battlefields," and labeling it "a crime."
In response to the Ilam incidents, President Pezeshkian ordered the interior minister on Monday to investigate the unrest in the province, as reported by the semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency.
Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House, described the government's tactics — including security force deployments, internet slowdowns, and violence in rural areas — as elements of a familiar "crackdown playbook." "This is, of course, all part of a more organized effort, after a few lenient first days, to get people off of the streets as soon as possible," she said.
The protests' economic roots trace back to last week, when the rial's devaluation sparked initial gatherings over soaring prices and shortages. But the chants soon shifted to political grievances, with demonstrators directly challenging the authority of the clerical establishment that has governed Iran since 1979. Rights groups like HRANA and Hengaw have documented widespread arrests and injuries, though Iranian state media has downplayed the scale, focusing instead on foreign interference.
As the rial continues its freefall, experts warn that economic pressures could sustain the momentum. If the currency weakens further, "it is unlikely that the protests will stop anytime soon," analysts told NBC News. The combination of domestic discontent and external warnings has placed Iran's leadership in a precarious position, balancing internal stability with fears of escalation.
Looking ahead, the diffuse nature of the protests complicates any resolution, and the government's dual approach of dialogue and force shows limited success so far. With international eyes on Tehran — from Trump's statements to condemnations of hospital raids — the coming days could determine whether the unrest spreads or is contained, potentially reshaping Iran's political landscape amid its deepest economic woes in decades.