Demonstrations broke out in Iran on Dec. 28 and have spread nationwide as protesters vent their increasing discontent over the Islamic Republic’s faltering economy and the collapse of its currency.
Dozens of people have been killed and thousands arrested as the daily protests have grown and the government seeks to contain them.
While the initial focus had been on issues like spikes in the prices of food staples and the country’s staggering annual inflation rate, protesters have now begun chanting anti-government statements as well.
Here is how the protests developed:
Dec. 28: Protests break out in two major markets in downtown Tehran, after the Iranian rial plunged to 1.42 million to the U.S. dollar, a new record low, compounding inflationary pressure and pushing up the prices of food and other daily necessities.
The government had raised prices for nationally subsidized gasoline in early December, increasing discontent.
Dec. 29:
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