Power Lay in the Streets: Iranian Protesters Torch IRGC Bases Amid Escalating Iran Popular Unrest

Tehran, Iran - January 4, 2026 -- Dramatic footage circulating on social media shows protesters in Iran's Fars Province setting fire to Basij paramilitary bases affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as anti-regime demonstrations enter their second week with increasing violence.

The video, shared widely on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), captures nighttime scenes in Neyriz and surrounding areas where crowds overwhelm security forces, igniting structures amid chants against the government. Silhouettes of demonstrators confront regime personnel as flames engulf buildings, marking a bold escalation in protests that have spread to over 25 provinces.

The unrest, sparked by a catastrophic economic collapse-with inflation exceeding 42% and the rial losing nearly half its value in 2025-began in late December with merchant strikes in Tehran's Grand Bazaar. What started as economic grievances has rapidly evolved into widespread calls for the end of the Islamic Republic's rule.

Human rights groups report protests in more than 200 locations across 78 cities, with security forces responding with live ammunition, tear gas, and arrests. At least 20 protesters have been killed, dozens wounded, and hundreds detained, according to monitors like the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) and Iran International. Clashes have been particularly intense in western and rural provinces, including Lorestan and Ilam, where IRGC and Basij units have faced direct attacks.

In rare incidents, protesters have overrun or disarmed Basij members, chased forces from funerals, and torched vehicles or bases-actions described by analysts as a significant challenge to the regime's elite suppression apparatus. State media has acknowledged some security force casualties, blaming "rioters," while downplaying the scale.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has acknowledged public anger over livelihoods, warning that failing to address it could lead to "hell," but Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has drawn a line between "protesters" and "rioters," authorizing harsh measures.

The IRGC has projected strength through missile drills in Tehran and Shiraz, even as internal fractures appear. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of intervention if the crackdown intensifies, while Israeli officials express solidarity with demonstrators.

As the government declares extended holidays-ostensibly for weather and energy conservation-to curb gatherings, the protests show no signs of abating. This wave echoes the 2022 Mahsa Amini uprising but is amplified by acute economic despair and lingering tensions from 2025's brief war with Israel and the U.S.

Observers note the regime's security forces remain largely loyal, suppressing urban centers effectively, but strain is evident in provincial areas. Whether this marks a turning point or another contained revolt remains uncertain in a nation weary from sanctions, inflation, and isolation.