Nationwide Protests Erupt Across Iran on Student Day Amid Economic Hardships and Government Policies

Widespread Demonstrations Mark Student Day

On December 7, 2025, known as 'Student Day' in Iran, a wave of protests swept across the country, involving diverse segments of society including students, retirees, and villagers. The demonstrations, which took place in cities such as Tehran, Shush, Isfahan, Ahvaz, Rasht, Kerman, and Ruyin in Esfarayen, were primarily fueled by mounting economic hardships and discontent with various government policies.

Student Day, commemorating the killing of three students in 1953, has historically been a focal point for resistance against authoritarian rule. This year, students at Allameh Tabataba'i University in Tehran organized an independent 'Free Tribune,' chanting 'Student freedom, Society freedom' and 'Freedom for students, freedom for society,' despite attempts by university authorities to disrupt their gathering.

Economic Grievances at the Forefront

A central driver of the nationwide unrest was Iran's severe economic crisis. Protesters voiced anger over:

• Economic collapse and government plunder
• Rampant inflation and soaring prices of basic goods
• Low salaries and unpaid wages
• The struggle for basic survival, affecting an estimated 70 to 80 percent of the population

Retirees from the Social Security Organization and the steel industry held their fourth consecutive day of rallies, protesting injustice, poverty, and the rising cost of living. Reports indicate that a worker's salary often covers only about 10 days of living expenses, with staples like bread, eggs, and tomatoes experiencing unregulated price hikes.

Protests Against Government Policies and Environmental Concerns

Beyond economic issues, demonstrators also targeted specific government policies and broader governance concerns:

• Destructive environmental policies: Villagers in Ruyin, Esfarayen, protested the seizure of 3.5 hectares of natural resources and mountainsides by a regime-affiliated investor, chanting 'Mountain means water, water means life' to highlight threats to their water supply and agricultural livelihood.
• Failure to implement supportive laws: People with disabilities gathered in Tehran, protesting their dire living conditions and the government's failure to fully implement supportive legislation, with slogans like 'Enough oppression, our tables are empty!'
• Violation of workers' rights: Workers in various sectors, including a sugar company in Shush and poultry farmers in Fars province, continued strikes and protests over rights violations, unpaid wages, and rising costs of animal feed.
• Political repression and human rights: The 'No to Execution Tuesdays' campaign held activities in 16 Iranian cities on the eve of Student Day, supported by families and youth. Messages from imprisoned students Ali Younesi and Amirhossein Moradi from Evin and Ghezel Hesar prisons challenged the government's legitimacy and called for an uprising, dismissing hopes for foreign intervention or internal reform.
• Mandatory hijab laws: The ongoing defiance of mandatory hijab regulations was also evident, with two marathon organizers arrested on December 7 on Kish Island after images showed women running without headscarves.

Broader Context of Discontent

The protests on Student Day occurred within a broader context of sustained public discontent in Iran. Human rights groups report over 1,000 executions in 2025, the highest number according to Amnesty International, including political detainees and protesters. The government has faced increasing criticism for its handling of the economy, environmental degradation, and political freedoms, with authorities often responding to protests with repression.