Iranian government officials ordered a shutdown this week in response to widespread protests and rioting over the country's deteriorating economic and political situation. Businesses, universities, and government offices closed for one day across 21 provinces, as reported by Fox News.

Video footage shared by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) depicted intense clashes between protesters and security forces in cities such as Shiraz, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Tehran. Demonstrators were heard chanting slogans against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran.

The protests intensified on Tuesday following a significant decline in Iran’s national currency, the rial, which fell to a record low against the U.S. dollar, exacerbating inflation. Reports indicated that the rial was trading at 430,000 to the dollar when Iranian central bank chief Mohammad Reza Farzin took office in 2022; he resigned on Monday, but this did not quell the unrest. Many business owners closed their shops in protest against the currency collapse and rising inflation rates, which saw general inflation rise to 42.4 percent in December, with food inflation reaching 72 percent.

University students in Tehran were also vocal, chanting “Death to the dictator!” according to BBC News. Iranian officials reported that a volunteer member of the Revolutionary Guard was killed during the protests, marking the first death among security forces amid the ongoing unrest, as noted by the Associated Press.

In an interview, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the critical state of the economy, stating, “If we do not solve the problem of people’s livelihood, we will end up in hell.” He emphasized the need for collective efforts to address the economic challenges facing the populace.

Pezeshkian also claimed that Iran is engaged in a full-scale war with the United States, Europe, and Israel, echoing sentiments from Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) commander General Hossein Salami, who has warned of dire consequences for the West from a resilient Iranian regime.