The unrest has become the largest since the nationwide protests triggered by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, though it remains more geographically limited. Two people were reported killed on Wednesday and five on Thursday, according to Iranian officials and media. Unlike earlier protests centered on the capital, this wave has taken hold in smaller cities, signaling broader economic stress.

Violence Shifts to Rural Provinces

The most intense violence was reported in Azna, in Lorestan province, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) southwest of Tehran. Videos circulating online showed fires in the streets and the sound of gunfire as protesters shouted, “Shameless! Shameless!” The semiofficial Fars news agency reported three deaths there. State-run media offered limited acknowledgment, reflecting continued constraints on coverage following journalist arrests during the 2022 unrest.

Further clashes were reported in Lordegan, in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, roughly 470 kilometers (290 miles) south of Tehran. Footage showed demonstrators gathered as gunfire echoed nearby. Fars, citing an anonymous official, said two people were killed on Thursday. The Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran also reported two demonstrators killed and released an image showing what appeared to be an Iranian police officer wearing body armor and carrying a shotgun.

“Livelihood Concerns,” Officials Admit

The violence also claimed a member of the security forces. A Wednesday night protest led to the death of a 21-year-old volunteer in the Basij, the paramilitary force linked to the Revolutionary Guard. IRNA confirmed the death, while Student News Network blamed demonstrators. Lorestan deputy governor Saeed Pourali said the Guard member “was martyred ... at the hands of rioters,” adding that 13 Basij members and police officers were injured.

At the same time, Pourali acknowledged the economic roots of the unrest. “The protests that have occurred are due to economic pressures, inflation and currency fluctuations,” he said. In Kouhdasht, more than 400 kilometers (250 miles) southwest of Tehran, authorities said 20 people were arrested and calm restored.

Trump’s Warning Raises Stakes

The unrest drew a sharp intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump, adding an external dimension to Iran’s domestic crisis. Trump said: “If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”

The protests have been fueled by the collapse of Iran’s rial, now trading near 1.4 million to the U.S. dollar. President Masoud Pezeshkian has acknowledged the severity of the crisis but signaled limited immediate options. Meanwhile, state television reported seven arrests tied to alleged foreign-linked groups and claimed security forces seized 100 smuggled pistols, as authorities seek to contain unrest rooted in economic decline.