From revolution to rial collapse: A timeline of Iran’s major protests over the past 50 years

Five decades of protest in Iran

Over the past 50 years, Iran has been rocked by waves of protests, from the revolutionary fervour that toppled the Shah to the street uprisings over economic hardship and social injustice today. Each movement, whether sparked by political repression, soaring prices, or the deaths of civilians, has left an indelible mark on the country, shaping its modern history and highlighting the enduring tensions between the state and its people.

1979 Islamic Revolution

In the lead-up to Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, students, oil workers and others protested, demanding political freedoms. Those demonstrations pressured the fatally ill ruler of the country, the autocratic Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who ultimately fled the country. The revolution took hold in February under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who installed a hard-line Shiite theocracy under his ultimate control. The new government executed thousands. The bloodshed of the 1980s Iran-Iraq war and the crackdown halted mass demonstrations for years.

1999 student protests

Angered by the killing of activists, intellectuals and others known as the “chain murders,” students at Tehran University began protesting. A security force crackdown at the campus sparked more demonstrations. At least three people were killed while 1,200 were detained in the protests.

2009 Green Movement protests

In the summer of 2009, Iran's reformist opposition raised accusations that the reelection victory of the hard-line president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was rigged. Millions nationwide protested over the next months, becoming known as the “Green Movement.” A brutal security force crackdown saw dozens killed and thousands arrested.

2017-2018 demonstrations

Anger over rising food prices, as well as government plans to cut cash handouts for poorer Iranians, sparked demonstrations that began in Mashhad and spiraled out of control. Over 20 people were killed and hundreds arrested.

2019 gasoline protests

Iran's government announced a spike in subsidized gasoline prices, sparking intense protests that saw gas stations, banks and stores burned to the ground. Over 300 people reportedly were killed and authorities shut off the country's access to the internet.

2022 Mahsa Amini protests

Protests began in September 2022 soon after the death of Amini, 22, following her arrest by the country’s morality police over allegedly not wearing her hijab, or headscarf, to the liking of the authorities. United Nations investigators ultimately found Iran responsible for the “physical violence” that led to her death. A monthslong security crackdown killed more than 500 people and saw over 22,000 detained. However, many women to this day still refuse to wear the hijab.

2025-26 rial protests

As sanctions tightened and Iran struggled after a 12-day war with Israel, its rial currency collapsed, reaching 1.4 million to $1. Protests began soon after. Iran shut down the internet and telephone networks to the outside world after demonstrators heeded a call for nighttime rallies Thursday.