Iran’s national currency, the rial, has plummeted to unprecedented lows, triggering rare and organized trader protests that directly challenge the Islamist regime’s severe economic mismanagement. This escalating crisis, which saw Tehran shopkeepers shut down the Grand Bazaar to protest the rial’s value of 1,445,000 per USD, echoes the intense pressure exerted by strong U.S. sanctions. The unrest exposes the regime’s corruption and policy failures, risking hyperinflation and a broader erosion of its legitimacy.
Story Highlights
- Tehran shopkeepers shut Grand Bazaar and iron markets for second day on December 29, 2025, protesting rial at 1,445,000 per USD.
- Crowds chanted anti-government slogans, clashing with police who deployed tear gas to suppress dissent.
- Crisis stems from decades of regime corruption, sanctions, and policy failures, risking hyperinflation and broader unrest.
- Protests signal eroding legitimacy for the oppressive regime, a win for American pressure against terror sponsors.
Rial Plunges to Historic Lows
Shopkeepers and traders in central Tehran closed stores on December 28, 2025, after the Iranian rial hit all-time lows of around 1,445,000 per USD, 1,700,000 per EUR, and 1,950,000 per GBP. Inflation soared, devastating import-dependent businesses at sites like the Grand Bazaar, Charsou mall, and iron markets. Protesters chanted anti-government slogans, highlighting desperation from skyrocketing costs. This marks organized unrest unlike past sporadic complaints, driven by the currency’s worst depreciation ever.
Dec 29, 2025: Aerial view of massive #IranProtests at Tehran's Grand Bazaar. Merchants striking for 2nd day amid rial collapse & soaring costs.
MEK reports shutdown spreading to markets in other major cities.#TehranBazaar pic.twitter.com/sn07S9RHUf— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) December 29, 2025
Protests Escalate into Second Day
On December 29, 2025, merchants persisted with shop closures at the Grand Bazaar and central Tehran locations despite police intervention. Crowds clashed directly with security forces, who used tear gas to disperse demonstrators. Social media captured anti-regime chants and work stoppages by iron traders. No official government statement emerged, but forces prioritized suppression to maintain control amid the economic freefall
Roots in Regime Failures and Sanctions
The rial’s chronic devaluation traces to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, worsened by U.S. sanctions after the 2018 nuclear deal withdrawal, corrupt subsidies, and wars draining reserves. Past events include 2018 bazaar strikes, 2019-2022 fuel protests with 50% annual inflation, and 2024 slides from Israel tensions. Oil disruptions and domestic mismanagement pushed rates to new depths by late December 2025, fueling this grassroots pushback without major opposition involvement.
Stakes for Traders and the Regime
Tehran merchants wield economic leverage through strikes but confront the regime’s coercive power. The Central Bank of Iran faces blame for failed stabilizations amid low reserves. Protesters demand currency relief and inflation control, testing authorities’ grip. This unity among traders creates vulnerabilities for the government, as seen in prior crackdowns like 2022’s “Bloody November.”
Short-term disruptions halt commerce and spark inflation fears, potentially spreading beyond Tehran. Long-term, sustained weakness risks hyperinflation, bankruptcies, and eroded legitimacy, mirroring 2019 uprisings. President Trump’s sanctions amplify these pressures, underscoring how strong American policy starves terror regimes of resources while safeguarding U.S. interests and allies.
Watch the report: Iranian shopkeepers protest as currency hits record low | News UK Video News
Sources:
- Iranian shopkeepers protest, shut stores as currency hits record low – France 24
- Mass Protests, Business Closures In Tehran Over Dire Economic Situation
- From markets to streets: Iran protests spread nationwide on day two
- Second Day of Strikes Paralyzes Tehran Grand Bazaar as Currency Hits Historic Low – NCRI
- Shopkeepers in Tehran shut stores over economic conditions – World – DAWN.COM
