Anti-government protests spread across Iran

The protests, which began in Tehran over poor economic conditions, have spread to at least 100 cities in all 31 provinces, with dozens killed, according to Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights. US-based research group Institute for the Study of War has been mapping the protests:

Protests in Iran, Dec. 29, 2025 – Jan. 8, 2026

Data as of Jan. 8, 2026.

Note: The Institute for the Study of War assigns confidence levels (high, medium, or low) to each protest based on source reliability and quality of evidence. Sources are assessed for bias and historical accuracy, with higher confidence requiring multiple reliable sources and clear video documentation. Not all reported protests are mapped, only those that are verified are included.

Sources: The Institute for the Study of War with AEI’s Critical Threats Project, Iran Human Rights

Graphic: Lou Robinson, CNN