Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday publicly called on security forces to distinguish between peaceful demonstrators and violent actors as widespread protests enter their second week, urging restraint in an effort to calm tensions that have already resulted in multiple deaths and thousands of detentions.
Pezeshkian’s appeal came amid nationwide demonstrations sparked by public outrage over deepening economic hardship, including the sharp collapse of the Iranian rial, record inflation and rising costs of living. The unrest began in late December with strikes by shopkeepers in Tehran’s historic Grand Bazaar and has since spread to dozens of cities and towns across the country.
In remarks relayed by state media, Pezeshkian told security forces they must make a clear distinction between peaceful protesters expressing legitimate grievances and those he labelled “rioters.” Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, quoting the president after a cabinet meeting, said Pezeshkian ordered that no security measures be taken against demonstrators as long as they remained nonviolent. He emphasised that those carrying weapons or attacking police or military sites should be treated differently from ordinary, peaceful protestors.
The president’s message aims to ease national tensions at a moment when Tehran’s response to the unrest is being closely watched both domestically and internationally. Protests have been accompanied by violence: activists and independent monitors say at least 36 people have been killed and around 2,000 detained so far, though official figures differ. Demonstrations have appeared in more than 200 locations across Iran’s provinces, often triggered by frustration over economic decline, job losses and continually falling living standards.
Security forces have at times responded forcefully, including firing tear gas and making arrests in key protest sites such as Tehran’s Grand Bazaar. Footage circulating online and reported by international media has shown clashes between riot police and demonstrators, with some reports describing raids on hospitals treating the injured.
The unrest comes in a broader context of economic strain and political pressure. Iran’s rial has plunged to record lows, cutting deeply into the purchasing power of ordinary citizens and heightening anger toward government policies. The government has also attempted limited economic relief measures, including modest subsidies for essential goods, but these have done little to stem public frustration.
The protests have drawn international attention. In recent days, former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly warned that the United States might intervene if Iranian forces used lethal force against peaceful demonstrators, a statement that Iranian officials have condemned as interference in internal affairs. Meanwhile, Iran’s powerful military leaders have issued warnings about external threats and vowed to defend the country against perceived foreign hostility.
Within Iran’s leadership, there are varying tones toward the unrest. While President Pezeshkian stressed restraint against peaceful protesters, other top officials have taken a firmer stance. The head of Iran’s judiciary warned there would be “no leniency” for individuals identified as rioters or supporters of unrest, particularly those accused of aiding foreign interference. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also condemned what he sees as destabilising forces and urged security forces to maintain order.
Protesters have made clear that their grievances extend beyond economics, with many calling for political accountability and structural changes. Younger generations, in particular, have taken to the streets in cities from Tehran to Kurdish-majority regions in the west, demanding both economic relief and broader social freedoms.
As the unrest continues, Iran stands at a delicate juncture: its leader’s call for distinction between peaceful protest and violent action reflects an attempt to defuse anger while maintaining control, but hardline rhetoric from other quarters suggests the government is under significant internal tension. International observers and human rights groups continue to express concern over civilian casualties and the treatment of detainees, urging all parties to pursue peaceful dialogue and safeguard basic rights.
Protests erupt in Iran as prices surge and currency hits new low
