Protests and strikes in Iran have spread from the capital, Tehran, to multiple cities, marking a third day of unrest driven by inflation and currency devaluation. The demonstrations commenced on Sunday when shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar initiated a strike after the Iranian rial reached a record low against the US dollar in the open market.

Verified videos have shown protests in cities including Karaj, Hamedan, Qeshm, Malard, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Shiraz, and Yazd. In response to the unrest, police deployed tear gas to disperse demonstrators. The Iranian government acknowledged the protests, stating it would listen to the public's concerns, even if faced with dissenting voices.

President Masoud Pezeshkian announced on social media that he had directed the interior minister to engage with representatives of the protesters to address their issues responsibly. Additionally, he accepted the resignation of Iran's central bank governor, Mohammadreza Farzin, appointing former economy and finance minister Abdolnasser Hemmati as his successor.

University students have joined the protests, voicing anti-government slogans, including calls against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Some demonstrators expressed support for Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late Shah, who was overthrown during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Pahlavi, currently in exile in the United States, expressed solidarity with the protesters, asserting that the regime's continuation would perpetuate economic decline.

The U.S. State Department's Persian-language account commended the protesters for their courage and expressed support for their pursuit of dignity and a better future, attributing the current economic crisis to years of ineffective policies. Discussions regarding Iran were reportedly a focal point during a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where Trump noted Iran's economic difficulties but refrained from explicitly endorsing regime change.

Trump also indicated potential support for further Israeli air strikes on Iran if the country were to advance its ballistic missile or nuclear programs. During a recent conflict between Israel and Iran, U.S. air strikes targeted key Iranian uranium enrichment sites, despite Iran's claims that its nuclear program is peaceful. In response to the ongoing protests, President Pezeshkian warned that Iran would respond severely to any acts of aggression. Khamenei has previously suggested that the Israeli government hoped for unrest in Iran to destabilize the regime, asserting that the public remained unaffected by external influences.