Reuters, AFP, ABC News, and major U.S. outlets report shootings, campus protests, and nationwide unrest amid economic collapse
International media outlets on Wednesday, December 31, published extensive coverage of Iran’s ongoing protests, highlighting violent crackdowns by security forces, the geographic spread of demonstrations, and the growing role of students and workers in nationwide unrest.
Reuters released a series of video clips showing demonstrations in multiple Iranian cities, reporting that violence in the city of Fasa began when security forces opened fire on protesters. According to the agency, Basij and local security units shot toward demonstrators gathered outside the Fasa governor’s office. The footage documented scenes of panic as gunfire erupted during the protest.
In Malard, west of Tehran, protesters clashed directly with security forces. Videos from Hamedan showed a demonstrator tearing down a banner bearing the image of Qassem Soleimani in a symbolic act of defiance. In Fooladshahr, security forces were seen using live ammunition and tear gas against demonstrators.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that one day after protests by merchants and shopkeepers in Tehran over worsening economic conditions, demonstrations spread to at least ten universities nationwide. According to AFP, seven of Tehran’s most prominent universities witnessed protests, while additional demonstrations took place at a technology university in Isfahan and educational centers in Yazd and Zanjan.
ABC News reported that Iranian students participating in the protests were calling for freedom and an end to the ruling system. The outlet noted that demonstrations began on Sunday afternoon in central Tehran and gradually expanded in both scale and scope, moving beyond purely economic demands toward slogans advocating “freedom and equality” and the overthrow of the regime.
Visual evidence published from multiple cities showed a heavy presence of police and security forces and the widespread use of tear gas to disperse crowds.
Newsweek reported that following the large-scale shutdown of Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, protests spread to Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad, where police deployed tear gas in several areas to break up gatherings.
In a message addressing the unrest, Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, stated:
“The three-day uprising by merchants, students, and other sectors of society signals the Iranian people’s determination to be free from religious tyranny. This wretched regime is doomed to be overthrown by the risen populace and rebellious youth.”
Fox News reported on Tuesday that protests in Iran had entered their third consecutive day, coinciding with the expansion of bazaar strikes nationwide. Citing the National Council of Resistance of Iran, the network stated that demonstrators on Tehran’s Enghelab Street clashed with security forces and forced them to retreat. Fox News also noted that Simaye Azadi television continued to broadcast coverage of anti-regime protests across Iran.
The New York Times reported that demonstrations and strikes linked to Iran’s collapsing economy expanded to universities in several cities on Tuesday. According to the paper, students near campuses—including the University of Tehran—clashed with security forces while chanting freedom-oriented slogans. Videos reviewed by the newspaper showed demonstrators repeatedly chanting “Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!” and “Do not be afraid—we are all together.”
Together, these reports underscore the scale, intensity, and nationwide character of Iran’s current protests, as well as the increasing use of force by authorities to contain a movement that has expanded from economic grievances to broader political demands.
