Major fires swept through several shops and a bank in Iran’s capital, Tehran, as nationwide protests entered their third week. Thick black smoke billowed over parts of the city, with burned-out buildings and debris scattered across nearby streets, highlighting a sharp escalation in unrest. Footage aired by China Media Group (CMG) showed large flames consuming commercial structures, leaving behind charred remains of shops and a bank reportedly destroyed during the violence. 

The fires erupted amid sustained demonstrations in Tehran and dozens of other cities, driven largely by public anger over worsening economic conditions and political grievances. Protests initially began over a sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial and sweeping subsidy reforms that increased the cost of basic goods, but have since expanded into broader calls for political change. Demonstrations have now been reported in at least 280 locations across the country, according to opposition-linked monitoring groups.

Rising Death Toll In Crackdown

The unrest has been accompanied by a deadly crackdown. Iranian state media said at least 109 police and security personnel have been killed since the protests began roughly two weeks ago. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that 30 security force members were killed in Isfahan province and six others in Kermanshah during recent clashes. International human rights groups operating outside Iran estimate that civilian fatalities exceed 200, though these figures could not be independently verified.

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Pezeshkian Blames Foreign ‘Sabotage’

In a nationally televised address on Sunday, President Masoud Pezeshkian said the government was prepared to address legitimate public concerns but would not tolerate violent unrest. He accused the United States and Israel of backing acts of sabotage and called for national unity against what he described as a foreign-backed destabilisation campaign. 

To contain the unrest, Iranian authorities have imposed internet restrictions for four consecutive days. Monitoring group NetBlocks reported disruptions lasting more than 60 hours, severely limiting online access.

State media also reported arson attacks elsewhere. A mosque was set on fire in the northeastern city of Mashhad, while a police station was torched in Tehran. Videos circulating online showed burning vehicles and roadblocks as protesters clashed with security forces. The Iranian Red Crescent Society said one of its staff members was killed when a relief building was attacked in Gorgan, in northern Iran.

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