TEHRAN, Iran — The Iranian government has pledged to address the economic grievances of merchants and citizens following a series of protests in the Tehran Bazaar that began in late December.
In a non-paper released in January 2026, officials detailed a multi-pronged approach to stabilize the market and support those affected by recent currency fluctuations. The government has already begun implementing immediate support packages for vulnerable groups and has initiated a series of consultative meetings with representatives from guilds, bazaar unions and business communities in major cities.
The demonstrations, which started Dec. 28, 2025, were primarily driven by a rise in foreign exchange rates that affected purchasing power and economic security. While the government characterized the initial gatherings as peaceful and professional, officials noted that the principal demand remains the restoration of market stability.
President Ebrahim Raisi has instructed the Ministry of Interior to conduct a comprehensive review of the unrest. This process is intended to strengthen accountability and transparency while addressing the root causes of the economic and social concerns raised by the protesters.
The government emphasized its commitment to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, stating that the right to peaceful assembly is recognized as an essential element of public participation. However, the report also made a clear distinction between these legitimate economic protests and violent acts, which officials attributed to foreign interference and small groups of violent individuals.
Despite the challenges of the unrest, the report stated that law enforcement has been directed to exercise restraint. The government remains focused on utilizing all available mechanisms to hear and address the peaceful demands of its citizens while maintaining public order.
The report concluded that in the absence of biased interference by foreign political authorities, the process of addressing these domestic economic challenges would proceed without difficulty.
===============================================
Non-paper
Regarding the Ongoing Unrest in the Islamic Republic of Iran
January 2026
On Sunday, 28 December 2025 (corresponding to 7 Dey 1404), following an increase in foreign exchange rates, sector-based protest gatherings were formed by some traders in the Tehran Bazaar. These gatherings were motivated by economic concerns and were held in response to the negative effects of currency fluctuations on commercial activities, purchasing power, and economic security. The principal demand of the participants was the restoration of stability in the market and the adoption of effective measures to curb volatility in this sector. From the outset, these gatherings were peaceful, professional, and demand-driven in nature, and participants sought to express their demands in a calm manner and without disrupting public order.
Respect for and Protection of the Rights to Freedom of Expression and
Peaceful Assembly
The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms its commitment to its obligations under international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), regarding respecting and protecting the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. These rights are guaranteed under the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the domestic legal framework and are recognized as essential elements of public participation in social and economic affairs.
All authorities and institutions of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran give due attention to the peaceful and lawful demands of peaceful protesters and will utilize all available capacities and mechanisms to pursue and address such demands.
The Islamic Republic of Iran neither in law nor in practice opposes the holding of peaceful assemblies. Long before any statements or recommendations by international or foreign officials regarding the right of Iranian citizens to peaceful assembly, the Islamic Republic of Iran had already implemented this right and provided the necessary legal infrastructure for its exercise, in accordance with its international human rights obligations and domestic laws.
It is expected that due care be exercised in making a clear distinction between peaceful protest—which is a lawful, legitimate, and protected right—and riots or violent acts.
Just as the Islamic Republic of Iran considers itself fully committed to supporting and protecting the right of its citizens to peaceful and lawful protest, it is equally obliged to prevent threats to public security. Accordingly, it must adopt necessary legal and preventive measures to confront any form of violence that endangers the lives, property, or psychological well-being of citizens and society. Within this framework, the rights of millions of peace-seeking Iranians will not be compromised due to the actions of a very limited number of violent individuals. Nor should any international official, mechanism, or human rights body expect law-enforcement forces to remain indifferent to armed or violent acts occurring simultaneously with or alongside peaceful assemblies, or to allow perpetrators of violence free rein to impose damage, harm, or costs on society and peaceful protesters.
All parties must recognize and adhere to this distinction so that peaceful protests may take place in a calm environment and the voices and demands of protesters are properly heard. All international officials and States should give serious consideration to this matter and refrain from any involvement in violence or destabilizing actions.
Livelihood-Related Protests and Measures Adopted by the Government In recent days, several gatherings have taken place in various parts of the country, primarily in response to economic concerns, including temporary fluctuations in exchange rates. Individuals who peacefully expressed their demands were not subjected to any confrontation, in accordance with the law and within the framework of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and no instances of violence, harassment, or undue interference were reported in these cases.
Nevertheless, a significant portion of the peaceful and fully lawful protests by some bazaar merchants and members of the public, held in protest the country’s economic conditions, were exploited—due to foreign interference—by a very small group, and in some cases escalated into violent and even armed clashes with law-enforcement forces at protest sites. These acts bore no connection whatsoever to the legitimate economic demands of the protesters and were neither endorsed nor supported by most of the population.
At the same time, authorities observed instances of violent unrest perpetrated by a limited number of individuals, including attacks on police stations, the use of incendiary devices such as Molotov cocktails against law-enforcement officers, and in some cases the use of firearms. Such actions constitute serious crimes involving violence against people and destruction of public property and fall outside the protective scope of peaceful assemblies under international human rights law. No State can tolerate such conduct.
It is evident that such violent acts, including the use of weapons and various types of hand-made explosive devices by terrorist groups, not only harm public security and endanger the lives and property of citizens, but also undermine the peaceful nature of protests and give rise to public concern. It should be noted that a clear distinction between peaceful civic protests and organized violent actions has consistently been emphasized by the competent authorities and relevant institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This approach was explicitly underscored in the remarks of the Supreme Leader on 3 January 2026 (13 Dey 1404), who stated:
“Protest is justified. We engage in dialogue with protesters. Officials must talk to protesters. However, those who, under various pretexts, come with the intention of destruction, of creating insecurity in the country, and who exploit the protests of bazaar merchants to cause riots and disorder, must be confronted.”
The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran has instructed the Ministry of Interior to conduct a comprehensive review of all incidents related to these events. This process is being carried out with the aim of ensuring transparency, clarifying responsibilities, strengthening accountability and preventive mechanisms, and with full respect for fair trial guarantees.
The Government has also taken tangible and positive steps to address the root causes of economic and social concerns. Immediate support packages for vulnerable groups have been implemented, and specialized consultative meetings have been held with representatives of guilds, bazaar unions, and business communities in major cities. The purpose of these engagements is to directly hear public demands, reduce market tensions, and initiate economic corrective measures.
Iran once again emphasizes the clear and principled distinction it draws between peaceful protests and violent or disorderly acts. While lawful assemblies and the peaceful expression of demands are fully respected and facilitated, authorities are obliged under international human rights law and domestic legislation to protect public security, the rights of others, and public order. Any response to unlawful acts is conducted in accordance with the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, restraint, and accountability.
Conduct of Law-Enforcement Forces in Relation to Protests
Despite the occurrence of violence by some individuals, law-enforcement forces have acted with restraint and in accordance with applicable laws, exercising utmost care to restore public order and security while minimizing harm and observing human rights principles, including necessity and proportionality.
Foreign Interference
The Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its deep concern regarding overt and increasing foreign interference in the country’s internal affairs and recent protests. The Prime Minister of the Zionist regime has made blatantly interventionist statements regarding Iran’s internal developments and has portrayed himself as sympathetic to the Iranian people. Such claims are profoundly deceptive, particularly considering the aggressive actions of this regime against Iran, which have resulted in the killing of more than 1,100 Iranian citizens. Decades of criminal actions by the Zionist regime against the Iranian people—often in coordination with its partners—cannot be concealed by rhetorical maneuvers or hypocritical behavior.
It is evident that the Zionist regime seeks to exploit every opportunity to sow division within Iranian society and undermine national cohesion. Statements and actions by figures such as the Prime Minister of this regime, as well as certain extremist and hardline American officials, in practice amount to incitement to violence, terrorism, and criminal acts. The Iranian people are fully aware of the true intentions behind such conduct and will not be deceived by these narratives.
The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the interventionist statements made by the President of the United States of America and other American officials regarding Iran’s internal affairs. Such coercive and unlawful positions constitute a flagrant violation of the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, particularly the principles of sovereignty and non-intervention, and effectively amount to encouragement of violence and terrorism against Iranian citizens.
On 2 January 2026, the President of the United States issued a statement concerning interference in Iran’s affairs. These remarks constitute yet another clear instance of intervention in the internal affairs of a Member State of the United Nations and a violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. In a statement amounting to incitement to violence, unrest, and terrorist acts within Iran, the President of the United States openly threatened the Islamic Republic of Iran with the use of force and intervention, declaring: “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
Of particular concern is that these reckless statements are not unprecedented. Only days earlier, the President of the United States had publicly threatened the Islamic Republic of Iran with the use of force, including the prospect of renewed military attacks against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities and its defensive capabilities. These repeated and deliberate statements demonstrate a consistent pattern of unlawful conduct by the United States and constitute a clear, explicit, and unlawful threat of the use of force against a sovereign State, as well as interference in its internal affairs. Such threats are strictly prohibited under international law, regardless of political pretexts or rhetorical framing. Any attempt to incite, encourage, or legitimize internal unrest as a pretext for external pressure or military intervention constitutes a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity, in flagrant breach of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, including Articles 2(1), 2(4), and 2(7) thereof, as well as General Assembly resolution 2625 (XXV) of 1970. Moreover, under international law, the encouragement, support, or facilitation of subversive or violent activities within another State constitutes an internationally wrongful act, directly engaging in the responsibility of the intervening State.
Recalling the long record of criminal interventions by successive U.S. administrations in Iran’s internal affairs, the Islamic Republic of Iran considers any claim of concern for the Iranian people to be hypocritical and aimed at deceiving public opinion and concealing extensive crimes committed against Iranians. The downing of Iran Air Flight 655 in 1988, killing 300 innocent civilians; complicity with the Zionist regime in attacks on safeguarded nuclear facilities and vital infrastructure in June 2025; acts of assassination and intimidation against Iranian nationals; and decades of illegal, inhumane, and coercive sanctions targeting the fundamental rights and livelihoods of the Iranian people constitute clear and undeniable evidence of hostility toward Iran and its people.
Economic Pressures Resulting from Unilateral Coercive Measures Against the Iranian People
The Islamic Republic of Iran further emphasizes that the extensive imposition of unilateral coercive measures has had a direct and adverse impact on the enjoyment by the Iranian people of their economic, social, and cultural rights. These unlawful measures have severely restricted the country’s financial resources, disrupted trade and investment, impeded access to essential goods and services, and consequently intensified economic pressures on ordinary citizens.
Conclusion
It is once again emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran fully respects and remains deeply committed to safeguarding the rights of its citizens, including the right to peaceful protests and assemblies, and has consistently implemented and will continue to implement this commitment. This right, as a cornerstone of civic and social participation, is recognized in the country’s policies and legal frameworks, and continuous efforts are made to ensure that citizens can express their demands and views in a lawful, safe, and peaceful manner. This approach is pursued not only in accordance with domestic requirements but also within the framework of the international obligations of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
As an active State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other relevant international conventions and instruments, Iran considers itself bound by the full and precise implementation of these instruments. Alongside domestic laws that accord a special status to citizens’ rights, these rights are closely monitored and actively protected. All authorities, institutions, and structures of the Islamic Republic of Iran are fully aware of these principles and obligations and consider themselves duty-bound to uphold them. This awareness and commitment form the basis of decision-making and executive action at all levels and guide the conduct of authorities in addressing peaceful assemblies and protests.
The Islamic Republic of Iran unequivocally guarantees that all human rights will be fully respected in the management of recent protests. Foremost among these rights is the right to life, which will be fully respected, and no negligence or violation will be tolerated in this regard. The lives of peaceful protesters are not at risk, and the protection of all individuals present at protests is the primary and non-negotiable priority of law-enforcement forces on the ground. All authorities and governmental bodies of the Islamic Republic of Iran hear the peaceful and lawful demands of protesters and utilize all available capacities and resources to pursue and address them, in order to safeguard citizens’ legitimate rights and ensure the rule of law.
The Islamic Republic of Iran recognizes and fully supports, in both law and practice, the right of citizens to hold peaceful assemblies. Accordingly, well before any recommendation or intervention by international or foreign officials, the necessary legal infrastructure to guarantee this right had been established in full conformity with international human rights obligations and domestic law. In due course, documented clarificatory reports on all these developments will be prepared and made available to the international community. These reports will demonstrate, with confidence and evidence, how Iran has sought to address these protests in full compliance with its human rights obligations.
The Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to dialogue, constructive engagement, and addressing legitimate economic and social concerns through lawful and participatory mechanisms, while firmly preventing any abuse of peaceful protests for violence, terrorism, or externally driven destabilization.
Without doubt, the ongoing protests in Iran would proceed without difficulty in the absence of biased interference by foreign political authorities. With nearly five decades of experience in confronting conspiracies and challenges imposed by third parties on the Government and people of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran knows well how to exercise patience and resilience in the face of such challenges. This is not Iran’s first experience in confronting social challenges that, under the influence of external interference, are systematically driven toward violence, and it will certainly overcome this challenge.
It is expected that statements by international officials be comprehensive and reflective of all relevant realities, and not based solely on selective, biased, or politically motivated reports and allegations, and that any intervention likely to exacerbate the non-peaceful dimensions of recent protests be avoided.
Once again, it is emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran remains fully committed to fulfilling its obligations to protect the rights of Iranian citizens— particularly the right to peaceful assembly—while simultaneously considering the protection of lives and property, the safeguarding of public assets, and the preservation of public security as fundamental responsibilities. In both domains, Iran will act fully and without hesitation in accordance with the law and its international obligations.
