Buildings have been set on fire and national flags ripped in half as huge crowds of anti-government protesters marched through Iran’s capital and cities across the country. The protests mark the largest wave of unrest in three years, fueled by deepening economic distress —… pic.twitter.com/zQi03D36Dt
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 9, 2026
Buildings have been set on fire and national flags ripped in half as huge crowds of anti-government protesters marched through Iran’s capital and cities across the country. The protests mark the largest wave of unrest in three years, fueled by deepening economic distress — including soaring inflation linked to mismanagement and Western sanctions — alongside tightening political and social restrictions. On Friday, authorities largely cut Iran off from the outside world, imposing a nationwide internet blackout in an effort to contain the unrest.