Iran Prosecutor General Issues Warning Amid Escalating Economic Protests

Prosecutor General's Warning on Public Order

Iran's Prosecutor General, Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, issued a stern warning on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, stating that while 'peaceful livelihood protests' stemming from economic grievances are legitimate, any efforts to exploit these demonstrations to create insecurity or damage public property would be met with a 'legal, proportionate, and decisive response'. Speaking to state media, Movahedi-Azad emphasized that 'any attempt to turn economic protests into a tool of insecurity, destruction of public property, or implementation of externally designed scenarios will inevitably be met with a legal, proportionate and decisive response'.

Context of Widespread Economic Discontent

The Prosecutor General's remarks come amidst a wave of protests that have swept across Iran in recent days. These demonstrations, initially sparked by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants in Tehran, have expanded to include students and other groups in cities such as Isfahan, Yazd, and Zanjan. The unrest is primarily fueled by severe economic pressures, including skyrocketing inflation, rising food prices, and a significant depreciation of the national currency, the Iranian rial.

Official data indicates that annual inflation reached over 50 percent in December, with many households reporting even higher price increases for basic goods. The rial has plummeted to a record low, trading at approximately 1.42 million to 1.45 million against the US dollar, compared to around 820,000 rials a year prior. These economic challenges are exacerbated by ongoing international sanctions and recent regional conflicts.

Government's Dual Approach and External Allegations

In response to the escalating protests, Iranian authorities appear to be employing a dual strategy, combining conciliatory gestures with firm warnings. President Masoud Pezeshkian has reportedly called for dialogue, instructing the interior minister to engage with representatives of the protesting groups to address their 'legitimate demands'. Concurrently, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has also issued a statement, cautioning against 'any sedition, unrest, cognitive warfare, or security threat'.

Some Iranian officials have also pointed to alleged external interference, with reports mentioning that Israel's Mossad intelligence agency publicly encouraged Iranian protesters via social media. This suggests a narrative from authorities that seeks to differentiate between genuine economic grievances and what they perceive as externally manipulated attempts to destabilize the country.

Judicial Background of the Prosecutor General

Mohammad Movahedi-Azad assumed the role of Prosecutor General in August 2023. His judicial career includes serving as the head of Branch 54 of Tehran's Court of Appeal and the Tehran Revolutionary Court. During his tenure in these positions, he was involved in upholding severe sentences for political prisoners and members of the Baha'i community, and has been accused of human rights violations.