Months before the protests erupted in Iran, its citizens began to quietly withdraw their funds from Iran's banks. As protests have now swept across Iran, the nation's banking sector faces unprecedented strain, with reports of full-scale bank runs. The Iranian regime has responded with withdrawal suspensions. The plummeting value of the currency is fueling fears of systemic collapse.

As of January 7, 2026, Iran is engulfed in one of the most widespread and intense waves of anti-government protests in its recent history. What began in late December 2025 as demonstrations against the dramatic devaluation of the rial—plummeting to around 1.4 million per U.S. dollar amid hyperinflation exceeding 40%—has rapidly evolved into a direct challenge to the Islamic Republic's authority.