As Iran Protests Grow, US Works to Isolate Regime and Pressure China

Mass protests and reported killings in Iran coincide with sweeping U.S. tariffs designed to isolate Tehran and pressure its main backer, Beijing.
As Iran Protests Grow, US Works to Isolate Regime and Pressure China
Anti-Iranian regime protesters outside the Iranian Embassy in London on Jan. 12, 2026. Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images
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By late December 2025, Iran’s economy was on the verge of collapse. A steep drop in the value of the Iranian rial triggered widespread shortages and soaring prices, sparking nationwide protests that quickly escalated from economic grievances into open rebellion against the country’s theocratic regime.

Demonstrators not only burned symbols of the regime but also openly called for Iranian leader Ali Khamenei to step down. Social media footage has shown large crowds on the streets of Tehran, Iran, and other cities.