Protests shake Iran at its weakest point in years
BBC••nation
Key Points:
- Protests in Iran have entered their ninth day, sparked by economic hardships including soaring inflation and currency devaluation, with over 20 reported deaths due to violent crackdowns by security forces.
- US President Trump has issued rare direct warnings to Iranian leaders amid the unrest, signaling possible further US actions that could embolden protesters and escalate tensions.
- Iran's economy is severely weakened by international sanctions, high inflation, and corruption scandals involving senior officials, fueling public anger and demands for political change.
- The regional and international position of Iran has deteriorated following the 2025 conflict with Israel, loss of key allies like Syria, and US operations disrupting Iran's foreign financial networks.
- Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei faces unprecedented challenges as
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-22400154171-19eb2573d96647f8894478942b5721be.jpg)
