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WATCH: FURIOUS Iran protesters TEAR Islamic Republic flag down as violent clashes spread
Jan 8, 2026
Watch the moment furious Iranians tear down an Islamic Republic flag.Protests and clashes with security forces have raged on across Iran in response to the collapse of the national currency and a deepening economic crisis.At least 27 people have been killed and hundreds arrested since the unrest began, according to human rights organisations.WATCH ABOVE
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0:00
Watch the moment protesters in northeastern Iran tear down a giant flag of the Islamic Republic
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a powerful symbol of a country on edge. This comes as tensions continue to flare across Iran, with unrest spreading far beyond isolated demonstrations
0:32
What began in late December 2025, as protests over economic collapse, has now transformed into something far bigger, a nationwide political revolt
0:43
Sparked by the collapse of Iran's currency and soaring living costs, the uprising has now spread to at least 78 cities and 222 locations, with demonstrators openly calling for the end of the regime
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but the response from the authorities has been brutal. Iranian police and security forces have
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moved in violently, and human rights groups report that at least 36 people have been killed
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including three children, according to reporting by the BBC and The Guardian. Iran's Supreme Leader
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Ali Khamenei, has dismissed protesters as rioters, while rights groups say nearly 1,000 people have
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already been arrested. International pressure is also beginning to mount. Speaking aboard Air Force
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one. President Donald Trump warned that the United States could hit Iran very hard if protesters are
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not protected So far however there been no sign of direct US action even as the reported death toll continues to rise and no clarity from the White House on what would actually trigger
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intervention. Facing growing internal pressure, Iran's government has announced new economic measures aimed at calming unrest. State media says President Masoud Peshiskan has ordered
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security forces not to attack peaceful demonstrators, while officials unveiled emergency assistance to help families survive the crisis. A government spokesperson said national
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food subsidies for households would be tripled, adding roughly $7 a month to existing support
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But for many Iranians, it's seen as too little too late. As protests spread
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crackdowns intensify and global attention sharpens. The question now is whether Iran's
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leadership can contain a movement that appears to be slipping beyond its control. These events
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and what they mean for the future of Iran have been widely discussed on GB News
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The protests spread across the country from region to region, city to city, and people
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exhausted after 47 years brutality, dictatorship and corruption, raising the price, inflation
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and also financial collapse, pollution, water shortage. All get the people to the point, as long as this regime stays on the power
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nothing's going to change and they don't have anything to lose. That's the way they are feeling
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We are facing with the gene Z, or gene V, that's what we call them
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They are well connected to the world. They know what's going on in the other side of the world
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They want to be like other people. They want to have a normal life That why they are very determined at this They are not looking for reform They are not looking for freedom for hijab They are looking for regime change
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That's why they are chanting Javid Shah, Pahlavi return. Javid Shah represents half development
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secularism and democracy, and Iran back to global family after long-time isolation
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OK, well, there are three things I want to discuss here. The first is what the situation is on the ground
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specifically, are the protests greater than what we saw in 2022? Then I want to talk about the impact of what happened in Venezuela
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if that's going to encourage people. And finally, I want to talk about how there seems to be a sort of media silence on this issue
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Certainly as it was first going, I think a lot of people who were online a lot were seeing these incredible images coming out of Iran and nothing from BBC Channel 4 initially
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So first of all, you mentioned this, is it wider spread, the protests, than in 2022
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I've been observing every night, day and night, all the videos, footages they're coming from inside Iran
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That's significant. I've never seen such a thing. so much bravery. People, they get to the street, they're chanting, death to dictator, and they're
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calling for Prince Reza Pahlavi. I think the difference this time is people, they know what
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they want. There is a leader for this movement. And also after 12 days war with Israel, the fear
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spread inside the system, and the regime is weaker than before, especially after President
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Donald Trump warning the regime if you kill the protesters, that give more hope and courage to people to come to the street
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and fight against... Because it people on the street They unarmed They going out against armed people They already been I believe at least 10 murders that we know of of these protesters If you want to compare with 2018 and 2022 I mean I not saying it nothing
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but remember in 2018, the regime killed 1,500 people in three days
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So the reason for that is, I think, a lot of people working for the system, member of the ROGC and security forces, police and passage militant and army, they are part of this people
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They've got a family. They've got friends. They are struggling financially. They are suffering from the economical crisis
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And also they realize as long as this regime is staying in power, nothing is going to change
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So we're witnessing some of the members of the IRGC and security forces, they separate themselves from the rest
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And some of them publicly announce they are not going to harm any civilians and they are going to stay in the side of the protester
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It's a house of cards. And once one falls, then people are seemingly quite optimistic this time
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And you think that President Trump's actions in Venezuela, that might be encouraging to different Iranians through Iran
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Absolutely. I think since after the Madova regime's collapse, we see more courage and hope for Iranians
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Don't forget, Madova regime was the last ally for Iranian regime by overthrowing the Madova regime, cut off the financial sources
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that gives more hope and courage to people to fight back with this brutal regime after 47 days
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47 years in my opinion sorry and and hopefully we will see free Iran soon
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