Iran’s Last Run? Bazaar Strikes, Student Protests, and Boiling Civilian Anger Heading Toward Critical Mass
The streets of Iran are boiling, and the world is watching a regime on the edge of collapse. All over the country’s cities and streets, protesters have surged into a third day of unstoppable strikes and uprisings. Bazaar merchants slam their shutters, students flood universities, and ordinary citizens fill every street chanting “Death to the dictator” and “Death to Velayat-e Faqih.” Special units fire tear gas, plainclothes agents harass the brave, but nothing can stem the tide. For the first time in decades, tens of millions are united in one defiant roar. The regime is cornered, its desperation palpable, its power unraveling—and the people are ready to deliver the knockout blow.
What began as economic outrage may now be reaching critical mass, transforming into a nationwide uprising that directly targets the clerical system itself. For a third consecutive day, Tehran’s bazaars have shut down, universities have poured into the streets, and protests have spread like wildfire across Iran’s major cities. The message from the streets is unmistakable: the regime must fall.
Alireza Jafarzadeh, Deputy Director of NCRI, Shahin Gobadi, member of NCRI Parliament in Exile, Shirin Nariman, former political prisoner in Iran, Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad and Dr. Kazem Kazerounian, as well as NCRI’s Ali Safavi are available for interviews to discuss the potential of reaching the Iranian people’s breaking point.
This uprising has crossed a dangerous threshold for the mullahs. Protesters have attacked symbols of regime power—including the reported targeting of a senior cleric’s vehicle—demonstrating a level of fearlessness not seen in years. Chants of “Death to the dictator,” “Death to Velayat-e Faqih,” and “We march until overthrow” now echo from Tehran to Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, Ahvaz, and beyond. This is no longer a protest about prices. It is a revolt against the entire system of clerical rule.
The bazaar strikes—historically a death knell for Iranian regimes—have proven especially significant. Merchants across Tehran, from gold markets to iron districts, have closed their shops in open defiance, while students at the country’s most prestigious universities have joined them in burgeoning numbers. When students and bazaar merchants align, the regime understands the stakes: this is how revolutions begin.
The state’s response reveals panic. The IRGC, Basij, intelligence services, police, and plainclothes agents have been placed on full alert, flooding city centers with tear gas, batons, and intimidation. Protesters have been attacked in Shush Square, Mellat Street, and Javadiyeh—yet the crowds keep returning. The regime is increasingly targeting civilians for injury and death in a last-ditch attempt to terrorize the population into silence. Instead, it is producing the opposite effect: rage, unity, and defiance.
Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, has made clear what this moment represents: the accumulated fury of tens of millions driven to the breaking point by economic collapse, corruption, repression, and humiliation. The chants now heard across Iran identify both the root cause—the system of Velayat-e Faqih—and the solution: organized resistance and uprising.
NCRI spokesmen can explain why this uprising is different, why the regime is rapidly running out of options, and why escalation—not containment—is now the regime’s only path forward. This is a trapped dictatorship lashing out, not a stable state in control. Iran has entered a decisive phase—and the world must pay attention now.
Speakers Available:
Alireza Jafarzadeh – Deputy Director of NCRI
Shahin Gobadi – Member of NCRI Parliament in Exile
Other Speakers Available:
Shirin Nariman – Former Political Prisoner in Iran
Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad – Iranian American Scholar and Cybersecurity Executive
Dr. Kazem Kazerounian – Dean of College of Engineering; expert on Iran’s Nuclear program
Related Article(s)
Iran protests escalate in Tehran and Mashhad amid violent clashes | Fox News
Optional Q&A
- How do the third-day bazaar strikes signal that Iran’s protests have reached a revolutionary tipping point rather than a temporary flare-up?
- Why is the participation of merchants and university students together so threatening to the clerical regime’s survival?
- What does the reported targeting of a mullah’s car reveal about the protesters’ fear threshold and willingness to confront power directly?
- Why have massive security deployments by the IRGC, Basij, and intelligence services failed to deter crowds from returning to the streets?
- How do chants calling for the end of Velayat-e Faqih show that protesters are targeting the system itself, not just economic conditions?
- Is the regime’s increasing use of violence against civilians a sign of strength—or a last act of desperation as options run out?
- What role does the NCRI see for organized resistance in transforming these nationwide protests into irreversible political change?
- Why should Western governments view this uprising as a decisive moment for Iran’s future rather than another cycle of unrest?
Official Statement from Secretariat of NCRI
Third Day of Bazaar Strikes and Protests, Joined Widely by Universities, With Clashes in Shush Square and Mellat Street
A full state of alert and the heavy deployment of repressive forces in the streets failed to stop protesters from gathering.
Chants: “Death to this high cost of living — we march until overthrow,” “Death to the dictator,” “Death to the principle of Velayat-e Faqih (absolute clerical rule).”
Mrs. Rajavi: This uprising reflects the anger of tens of millions of people who have been driven to the breaking point by the clerical regime’s oppression. With their slogans, they point both to the root of the problem — the system of Velayat-e Faqih — and to the solution: resistance and uprising.
On the morning of Tuesday, December 30, 2025, popular protests and uprisings entered their third day, as students from various universities in Tehran and many other cities joined in. Shopkeepers and merchants in different parts of Tehran — including the Goldsmiths’ Bazaar, Sarāy-e Melli, Seyed Esmaeil, Bein-ol-Haramain, Soor-e Esrafil, Amin-Hozour, Jafari, Pachenar, and on Sabounian Street near Shush Bazaar, Ahangaran, Jolo-khan, Hammam-Chal, Molavi, and Bani-Hashem — closed their shops. Protesters gathered in Tehran’s Iron Market (Shadabad). Special units attacked protesters in Shush Square and Javadiyeh with tear gas.
At the same time, the strike spread to other cities, including Shiraz, Isfahan (Naqsh-e Jahan Square), Kermanshah (Mossadegh Street), Mashhad (Saadi Street), Ahvaz, Yazd, Karaj, Malard, Pardis, Hamedan, Qeshm, Zanjan, and Tabriz (BRT bus drivers). Meanwhile, repressive forces — including the IRGC, police, Ministry of Intelligence, plainclothes agents, and other security units — were placed on full alert and heavily deployed across many areas.
Students at Tehran University, Sharif University of Technology, Khajeh Nasir, National (Beheshti), Amir Kabir, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tabatabai, University of Science and Culture, Isfahan University of Technology, and Yazd University held marches and protest gatherings, chanting: “Death to the dictator,” “Students will die but will not accept humiliation,” “All these years of crimes — death to this rule,” and “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid — we are all together.” At National University and Khajeh Nasir, students stood up to Basij and plainclothes agents, chanting, “Shameless! Shameless!”
In Tehran, demonstrations in Mellat Street, Shush Square, and Javadiyeh turned into clashes with repressive forces. Special units fired tear gas to disperse the crowds, but defiant youth and ordinary citizens continued their protests.
The clerical regime deployed police and plainclothes agents widely across Ferdowsi, Vali-e Asr, Sattarkhan, and around the bazaar to try to prevent gatherings — but failed. In cities such as Karaj and Mashhad, security forces were also heavily stationed in central areas.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, described the uprising of the bazaar merchants and other sectors as a reflection of the anger of tens of millions of people who have been crushed by the rapid collapse of the currency, soaring inflation, unprecedented recession, and systematic governmental corruption and discrimination. With their slogans, she said, they highlight both the root of the crisis — the system of Velayat-e Faqih — and the solution: resistance and uprising.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
29 December 2025
ABOUT ALIREZA JAFARZADEH…
Alireza Jafarzadeh serves as the Deputy Director of the Washington Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). He is also the author of The Iran Threat (Palgrave MacMillan, New York, 2008).
A recognized expert on Iranian policy, Jafarzadeh has been at the forefront of efforts to prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons. His groundbreaking work in 2002 and 2003 led to the discovery of key illicit nuclear sites in Iran, including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, the Arak heavy water plant, the Kalaye Electric centrifuge testing facility near Tehran, and the Lashkar Ab’ad laser enrichment facility. These revelations prompted the first-ever inspections of Iranian nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Jafarzadeh is a frequent guest on major television and radio networks, including CBS Evening News, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, and France 24. His insights have also been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Time, and The Hill.
ABOUT SHAHIN GOBADI…
Shahin Gobadi, a U.S.-educated nuclear engineer, is a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Iran’s Parliament-in-Exile.
An astute observer of Iranian affairs for over three decades, Gobadi is an expert on topics including Iranian state-sponsored terrorism, proxy groups in the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, Western policy toward Iran, and internal Iranian affairs.
He has been interviewed by major international media outlets, including CNN, Fox News, BBC, Sky TV, GB News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Times, The Daily Telegraph, Reuters, and the Associated Press. Gobadi’s writings have appeared in prominent media across the U.S. and Europe.
ABOUT SHIRIN NARIMAN…
Shirin Nariman is a former political prisoner from Iran, human rights advocate, and entrepreneur.
At just 15 years old, during the 1979 Iranian Revolution, she became involved in pro-democracy activities and supported the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). Less than two years later, she was arrested for her activism—becoming one of the youngest political prisoners of her time and enduring severe torture in Evin Prison. Her case drew international attention and intervention from the Red Cross.
During her imprisonment, Shirin witnessed the regime’s brutality firsthand, including the executions of children, elderly women, and pregnant prisoners. After her release, she eventually sought refuge in the United States, where she has dedicated her life to advocating for human rights, women’s rights, and a free, democratic, non-nuclear Iran.
Shirin holds a bachelor’s degree in management information systems and has worked with leading wireless and financial corporations.
ABOUT DR. MOHAMMAD H. TASOOJI…
Dr. Mohammad H. Tasooji, a professor at California State University San Marcos, is an accomplished engineer, educator, and industry leader. He earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, an M.S. in Engineering Economic Systems from Stanford University, and a Doctorate in Communication Systems from USC. Dr. Tasooji has held senior management roles at leading technology firms, including Qualcomm, Ericsson, Gtran Wireless, and Nokia. He contributes to clean-energy innovation as CEO of Sienza Energy.
ABOUT DR. RAMESH SEPEHRRAD…
Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad is a leading Iranian-American scholar, published author, cybersecurity executive, and human rights advocate, known for her tireless efforts to advance a non-nuclear, secular, and democratic republic in Iran. As Chair of the Advisory Board of the Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC), she plays a pivotal role in bipartisan majority of congressional advocacy, including support for various house resolutions, which endorses the Iranian people’s aspirations for freedom and Maryam Rajavi’s ten-point plan.
Born in Shiraz, Iran, Ramesh’s commitment to justice is deeply personal. Her family endured brutal persecution under both the Shah’s monarchy and the current theocratic regime. Several relatives were imprisoned, tortured, or executed for their opposition to tyranny—an experience that has shaped her life’s mission to amplify the voices of Iran’s oppressed.
After seeking refuge in the United States in 1985, Dr. Sepehrrad earned a B.S. in Computer Science from SUNY Buffalo, an M.A. in Political Science, and a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University. She has also taught graduate courses on conflict, gender, and human rights at George Mason, University of Connecticut where she was inducted as the Distinguished Engineer, and University of Baltimore.
Professionally, she has held senior executive roles in cybersecurity and risk management where she has earned numerous industry awards and recognition.
Through academic rigor, policy engagement, and grassroots mobilization, Dr. Sepehrrad is a compelling voice for democratic change in Iran—rejecting both monarchy and theocracy in favor of a republic rooted in gender equality, human rights and the rule of law.
ABOUT DR. KAZEM KAZEROUNIAN…
Dr. Kazem Kazerounian is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Connecticut and served as Dean of the College of Engineering from 2012 to 2024.
He is a member of The Free Iran Scholars Network. A passionate advocate for democracy and human rights, Dr. Kazerounian is also an expert on Iran and the Middle East, particularly regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, and human rights situation in Iran. He has contributed widely through scholarly articles, invited talks, and media interviews on regional affairs and the democratic movement in Iran.
Nationally, he has held leadership roles with ASEE and ASME, shaping engineering policy and education. His honors include the ASME Mechanisms and Robotics Award, AIMBE Fellowship, and induction into the Connecticut Academy of Science & Engineering.
An ASME Fellow, his research spans kinematics, robotics, and biomechanics. He has authored over 160 scholarly works and co-founded AcademicKeys.com and AcademicJournal.com, a professional platform and an online journal for academics.
ABOUT ALI SAFAVI…
Ali Safavi is a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Iran’s Parliament-in-Exile.
A sociologist by training, Safavi studied and taught at UCLA, California State University Los Angeles, and the University of Michigan. He was an active participant in the anti-Shah student movement in the 1970s in the United States and has been deeply engaged in Iranian affairs ever since.
Safavi has lectured and written extensively on Iran, Iraq, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and Middle Eastern politics. He has appeared in interviews on networks such as CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, BBC, Sky TV, Newsmax, and France 24. His articles and commentary have been published in leading outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, The Boston Herald, The Washington Times, and The Financial Times.
This material is distributed by Special Guests Publicity LLC on behalf of National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) / Media Strategy Consulting LTD. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. CONTACT: For further details or to arrange the interview, please contact Jerry McGlothlin at 919-437-0001 / Bookings@SeasonalLiving.com
