Women at the Forefront of Widespread Protests in Iran
A Wave of Resistance Across Iran
January 2025 witnessed a significant surge in protests across Iran, with women playing a leading role. From Tehran to smaller cities like Sanandaj and Ilam, women of all ages took to the streets, demanding justice, economic relief, and an end to discrimination. Their presence was striking, demonstrating unwavering resilience in the face of increasing repression.
The Frequency and Spread of Protests
The protests were not isolated incidents but an almost daily occurrence throughout the month. Reports indicate that demonstrations erupted in multiple provinces, including Tehran, Khuzestan, Kurdistan, Isfahan, Gilan, S. Khorasan, Mazandaran, Fars, E. Azerbaijan, W. Azerbaijan, Ilam, and Hormozgan.
Women participated in both planned and spontaneous protests, reflecting the growing dissatisfaction with the Iranian regime’s policies.
Among the most active groups were female teachers, healthcare workers, retirees, and students. Retirees, particularly from the telecommunications sector, organized weekly protests in multiple cities, while teachers and nurses led sit-ins and street demonstrations, demanding fair wages and the fulfillment of government promises.
The protests were especially prominent among retired teachers from the class of 2023, who staged weekly demonstrations demanding their unpaid benefits. The Iranian regime has continually ignored their demands, leaving them with no choice but to take to the streets. Many of these retirees travel from different cities to Tehran and have formed a highly organized and persistent protest movement.
The Key Demands
The demonstrators’ demands were diverse but interconnected. Economic hardships remained at the forefront, with women calling for increased wages, pensions that reflect inflation, and an end to government corruption. Many also demanded political freedoms, denouncing the regime’s ongoing repression of activists and the arbitrary arrests of protesters.
In particular, the protesters called for abolishing discriminatory laws, including restrictions on dress codes and employment opportunities.
Beyond economic grievances, many demonstrators emphasized that the Iranian people recognize the regime as their primary oppressor. The protests have also been fueled by frustration over the Iranian regime’s foreign policies, with many citizens condemning the regime’s war-driven agenda while the domestic economy crumbles. The prevailing sentiment among demonstrators is that true change can only come through mass mobilization in the streets.
A Glimpse of Protests Across Iran
On January 6, 2025, retired educators of 2023 held a grand protest rally after sixteen months had passed without paying them 60% of their retirement bonus (end-of-service gratuity). During the demonstration, the retirees chanted: “The educator is awake, fed up with discrimination — with all these resources, Iran’s condition is ruined — Our income is in the dragon’s mouth — Iran, the country of high income, what has become of you?”
On January 20, 2025, in Tehran, a large group of retired teachers assembled in front of the Ministry of Education to protest against severe economic hardships and the regime’s blatant neglect. The majority of participants were women.
Soon after, state security forces attempted to disperse the peaceful demonstration by using pepper spray. As a result of this assault, the physical safety of several retired teachers—who were demanding the payment of their long-overdue benefits—was put at risk.
In response, they chanted, “If there were justice, no teacher would be here.”
Retired teachers held similar protests in 15 other cities, with women at the forefront.
On January 27, 2025, groups of retirees from the Telecommunications Company staged protest rallies—at least in the provinces of Tehran, Zanjan, Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Ilam—in response to the authorities’ failure to address their occupational and livelihood demands.
In Tehran, protestors took to the streets chanting, “Our enemy is right here; they lie when they say the enemy is America.”
In Ilam, the protesting retirees emphasized in their slogans the necessity of enforcing the welfare regulations. In Kermanshah, they declared, “A wakeful retiree is fed up with oppression and coercion.”
Additionally, in Isfahan and Zanjan, the demonstrators shouted, “Don’t delay any longer—solve our problem now.”
Slogans of Defiance
The slogans chanted by protesters reveal the depth of the Iranian people’s dissatisfaction with the regime: We have seen no justice, only endless lies
- O God of Justice, behead those who commit injustice.
- Neither parliament nor government cares about the people
- Our enemy is right here, they lie about America
- No nation has ever experienced so much injustice.
- Enough with warmongering, our table remains empty.
- The headquarters of the Imam’s Telecommunications Command has robbed us of our rights.
- We say wages are too low, but bread prices are increased.
- Let go of the headscarves, and curb inflation.
- Iran, the land of high income—what has become of you?
- If even one act of embezzlement were caught, our problem would be solved.
- Retirees are awake and fed up with oppression.
These chants signified a shift from purely economic grievances to broader calls for systemic change. Women protesters, often at the forefront, made it clear that they were not merely seeking reforms but a fundamental transformation of Iran’s political landscape.
Regime’s Response: Repression and Intimidation
The Iranian regime responded with intensified crackdowns, deploying riot police and plainclothes officers to disperse gatherings. Reports from Tehran and Isfahan confirmed the use of tear gas and mass arrests, with many women detained and later released on bail and under threat. Security forces also attempted to curb online mobilization, restricting access to messaging apps and social media platforms frequently used by activists.
Despite these measures, the protests continued. Women, undeterred by the threats, found new ways to organize, including flash demonstrations and coordinated actions in various neighborhoods to overwhelm security forces.
The growing sense of solidarity among protesters extends beyond the streets, as demonstrations inside prisons have also echoed the same slogans. Protesters inside and outside prison walls share a common cause, further strengthening the movement’s unity and determination.
The Growing Role of Women in Iran’s Protest Movement
January 2025 reinforced the crucial role of women in Iran’s ongoing resistance. From leading chants to facing down security forces, women have cemented their place at the heart of the struggle for justice and freedom. Their widespread participation sends a clear message: Iranian women refuse to be silenced.
With their voices growing louder, the calls for change are becoming impossible to ignore.
