Iran has been engulfed in a fresh wave of widespread anti-government protests since December 28, 2025. These demonstrations have spread across all 31 of Iran's provinces, including areas traditionally loyal to the state. The unrest is primarily fueled by a deepening economic crisis, including high inflation and a collapsing currency, coupled with long-standing dissatisfaction with the Islamic Republic's government. Reports indicate a significant number of casualties, with CBS News reporting at least 116 deaths by January 10, 2026, and TIME citing a Tehran doctor reporting over 200 deaths in capital hospitals. Human rights groups have also noted thousands of arrests. The article's claim that this is "Iran's most powerful yet" uprising is an exaggeration and is disputed by several credible sources. While significant, the House of Commons Library explicitly states that the 2025-26 protests remain "smaller in scale than those in 2022 and similar nationwide protests in 2009, 2017-18 and 2019." Similarly, the Atlantic Council notes that while these protests have a wider geographic scope and more aggressive platform, they have "not drawn the same volume of people to the streets" as the 2009 Green Movement. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has acknowledged the protests, warning of a decisive crackdown on "rioters" despite international condemnation and warnings from the US. The ongoing situation in Iran carries high geopolitical importance, particularly for an Indian audience, given India's growing ties with Iran, including its inclusion in BRICS in 2024, and the broader implications for regional stability and global energy markets.