Security forces clashed with demonstrators Tuesday at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar as protests over Iran’s collapsing economy intensified, leaving at least 35 people dead and more than 1,200 detained, according to activists abroad. The sit-in at the historic market—long considered the economic and political heartbeat of Tehran—ended after authorities fired tear gas and shuttered the bazaar. The unrest comes as Iran’s currency hit a record low and the Central Bank sharply reduced subsidized exchange rates, a move expected to drive prices even higher for everyday goods and further erode household savings already battered by years of sanctions.

Even Iran’s reformist president, Masoud Pezeshkian, signaled that the crisis may be slipping beyond state control, admitting publicly that the government lacks the capacity to manage the situation alone. When economic collapse, public unrest, and state violence converge at a nation’s core institutions, history shows such moments often mark turning points rather than passing storms. The shaking of long-standing centers of commerce and authority serves as a sobering reminder that systems once thought immovable can unravel quickly, reshaping nations and setting the stage for far-reaching consequences.

SOURCE: AP