Protests in Iran sparked by economic woes now nationwide, say activists

This screengrab taken on January 6, 2026, from UGC images posted on social media the same day shows Iranian security forces using tear gas to disperse demonstrators in the Tehran bazaar. Iran will offer no leniency to "rioters", though the public has a right to demonstrate, the head of the country's judiciary said on Jan 5, 2026, following more than a week of sometimes-deadly protests. Protests erupted on Dec 28 when shopkeepers in capital Tehran staged a strike over high prices and economic stagnation. They have since spread to other cities and expanded to include political demands. (Photo by UGC / AFP) / AFP PHOTO / UGC / ANONYMOUS

DUBAI (AP): Protests in Iran sparked by economic woes have now gone nationwide in the Islamic Republic, activists said Thursday, signaling both their staying power and intensity as they challenge the country's theocracy.

Wednesday (Jan 7) saw the most-intense day of demonstrations, reaching rural towns and major cities in every province though still localised enough for daily life to continue in Tehran, Iran's capital, and elsewhere. So far, violence around the demonstrations has killed at least 38 people while more than 2,200 others have been detained, said the United States-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.