Shopkeepers at Tehran’s Aladdin and Charsou markets shut their stores and took to the streets as protests against the Islamic Republic resurfaced in the Iranian capital.
Merchants at the major shopping centers near Hafez Intersection reportedly closed their businesses earlier today, with videos showing renewed unrest amid worsening economic conditions and mounting public anger.
The location is significant. Merchant protests in Tehran’s markets and bazaars have repeatedly helped trigger wider demonstrations, including the nationwide uprising that began in December 2025 and was met with a bloody regime crackdown in January 2026.
Iran’s shopkeepers have historically played a powerful role in periods of political upheaval. While today’s closures remain localized, protests beginning in these commercial centers have previously spread far beyond the markets.
