On 28 December, a wave of protests erupted across Iran, marking one of the most serious episodes of unrest since the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in 2022-2023. The demonstrations began in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, where shopkeepers closed their businesses in protest against soaring inflation and the collapse of the national currency. Although initially driven by economic grievances, the protests rapidly started to spread across the country, evolving into broader anti-government demonstrations with the participation of large sectors society, including students, workers and retirees. In the final days of the month, security forces responded using tear gas, beatings and carrying out mass arrests. The protests intensified as they continued into January 2026, with at least 6,000 people killed.

Sources:Associated Press (1),Middle East Eye,The Guardian,Iran International,International IDEA,Associated Press (2)

Between 13 and 24 June, Israel launched a major air offensive against Iran, killing at least 935 people, including women and children, and injuring thousands of others. The airstrikes, which Israeli authorities claimed aimed to target nuclear facilities, hit critical infrastructure, including seven medical centres, as well as water and energy facilities, causing blackouts and fuel shortages, and limiting access to medical care. A 23 June strike on Evin Prison killed at least 70 people, including inmates, staff and civilians. The attacks caused mass displacement, with hundreds of thousands fleeing cities like Tehran. The United States also launched a strike on a nuclear facility on 22 June. The United Nations condemned these actions as serious violations of international law. A ceasefire between Israel and Iran was reached on 24 June.

*Since the impact of these events are felt primarily in Iran, they are coded in the entries for the latter. While they are not coded for Israel, it is Israeli action that causes the effects on democracy in Iran.

Sources: Associated Press, Arab News,The New Arab,Middle East Eye, United Nations (1), United Nations (2)

On 26 April, an explosion took place at the Shahid Rajaei port, the country’s largest commercial port, killing at least 70 people and injuring over 1,000 others. Reports suggest that many unregistered migrant workers from economically marginalized provinces were likely among the victims. These individuals, whose work often goes unrecorded in official employment systems, are especially difficult to identify and reach during recovery efforts. Several workers remain missing. Officials blamed the explosion on negligence, including mislabelling of cargo and unsafe storage of combustible material. Following the incident, journalists reported increased restrictions on coverage, while the Tehran prosecutor’s office filed charges against several media outlets and social media users for allegedly sharing ‘unauthorized information’ about the blast.

Sources:Associated Press,Business and Human Rights Resource Center,Iran International,The Guardian

On 5 July, presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian, representing the reformist political faction, won the second round of the Iranian presidential election with 53.7 percent of the vote. He defeated his hardline opponent, Saeed Jalili. Voter turnout reached 49.8 percent, higher than the record low 39.93 percent registered in the first round. This snap election was called following the sudden death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on 19 May. Initially, 80 candidates, including four women, registered for candidacy. However, Iran’s Guardian Council, responsible for overseeing the elections and vetting candidacies, approved only six male candidates.  Two candidates withdrew prior to the first round, leaving four contenders in the race. Since no candidate secured the required 50 per cent of the vote in the first round, a runoff was held between the top two candidates, Pezeshkian and Jalili. Pezeshkian's swearing-in ceremony took place on 30 July.

Sources:BBC,Al Jazeera,IRNA,Mehr News Agency,Al Arabiya