Police reportedly fired tear gas and rubber bullets into crowds in a bid to quell the unrest which first unfurled on Monday but have spread across at least 10 towns and cities.
The Iranian Rial has lost nearly two thirds of its value in the last six months alone. Many fear it will only plunge further after renewed American sanctions kick in on Monday, sparking the protests and a run on gold and hard currency.
Footage posted online showed hundreds of furious people gathering in Isfahan, Iran’s third city, with some burning tyres to counter tear gas and setting fire to police vehicles. State news agencies also reported “scattered protests” in the southern cities of Shiraz and Ahvaz, to the north in Mashhad and Sari and in Karaj, west of Tehran. Rallies were also recorded in Arak and Shahin-Shahr.
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More #IranProtests– Here in #Isfahan, protesters are confronting regime forces
“It was unexpected and seemed to start on social media, there was not much planning. It shows a sudden outburst of anger,” said Saeed Ghasseminejad, an Iran specialist at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies.
He said the unrest posed a major threat to the regime which was struggling to appease the people.
“It is not as widespread as protests in December but has united the lower and middle-income classes. Both small towns and major cities have joined. As the sanctions intensify you will have the upper-middle classes joining too,” he added.
“It was unexpected and seemed to start on social media, there was not much planning. It shows a sudden outburst of anger,” said Saeed Ghasseminejad, an Iran specialist at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies.
He said the unrest posed a major threat to the regime which was struggling to appease the people.