2025 Iranian protests

In May 2025, nurses,^[1] farmers, workers, bakers,^[2] truckers, and drivers in Iran staged nationwide strikes in response to rising insurance premiums, poor road security, high fuel prices, and low freight rates and the Iranian economic crisis and Iranian energy crisis. There are 365,000 truckers in Iran. The strikes have led to supply shortages. Strikes have been in more than 155 cities. ^[3][4]

Background

In the year 2025 there were reports of wide scale public strikes and protests and anti Iranian regime movement caused by deteriorating economic conditions, including power shortages and food price hikes. The "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests, which began in September 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini while in morality police custody, have led to ongoing repression and surveillance by the Iranian government aimed at crushing dissent. The UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran has reported that the government continues to intensify efforts to restrict the rights of women and girls, as well as others demanding human rights, in a bid to suppress the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement. The mission has documented gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity committed during the protests, including the use of force, torture, and unfair trials. Ethnic and religious minorities, particularly Kurds and Baluchis, have been disproportionately targeted during the crackdown. In response to these violations, the Human Rights Council has extended the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission to investigate ongoing serious human rights violations in Iran and to document evidence for legal proceedings. The mission has called for justice, accountability, and reparations for those affected by the protests.

The Iranian regime's inability to enforce compulsory hijab laws and the growing gulf between state and society suggest that regime change may be becoming inevitable.^{[5] [6] [7] [8] [9][10][11]}

Truckers were striking nationally for 7 days with major support from Iranian regime opposition, and at least 11 people were arrested.^[12][13][14]

Strike

In May 2025, a nationwide strike by truck drivers in Iran began in the southwestern port city of Bandar Abbas and spread to multiple provinces, including Isfahan, Shiraz, Tehran, and Kermanshah, according to reports from social media monitoring groups and Persian-language media based abroad. The strike was reportedly triggered by rising insurance premiums, poor road security, a proposed hike in fuel prices, and low freight rates.^[15] The planned increase would raise diesel fuel prices from approximately $0.04 to $0.50 per liter.^[16] While strikes occur occasionally in Iran, the duration and national scale of this action were considered unusual. Rights monitors reported arrests and confrontations with security forces. Iranian authorities acknowledged the economic concerns, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf calling truckers a vital part of the supply chain and urging prompt government response.^[15] Officials acknowledged the truckers' concerns, and the Cabinet reportedly discussed the matter.^[16]

Exodus from Tehran

In June 2025 following the Iran-Israel War and airstrikes on Tehran the 2025 Iranian exodus from Tehran began, as reports of shortage of gas and other commodities emerged on the news as well as social media.^[17][18][19] This reflected the population's distrust in government statements and the economy within Iran. ^[20][21][18]

Reactions

Iranians

The protest has drawn support from prominent figures, including Crown Prince in exile Reza Pahlavi filmmaker Jafar Panahi and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, who framed the strike as a broader call against government repression and economic hardship.^[16]

International

Foundation For Defense of Democracies called on foreign policy makers for their global support for the labor strikes.^[22]

See also

• Iran Prosperity Project
• Hijab and chastity law
• Political slogans of the Islamic Republic of Iran
• Protests in Iran
• Women's rights in Iran
• 2025 Iranian exodus from Tehran