Tehran, Jan 02 (V7N) – Iran remains gripped by nationwide anti-government protests for the fifth consecutive day, with at least six people killed and more than fifty injured in clashes with security forces within the last 24 hours.

Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera confirmed the information in a report.

According to the report, one protester was killed on Wednesday (December 31), while five others lost their lives on Thursday (January 1). Among the deceased, three were killed in the city of Ajna in Lorestan province.

The unrest, which initially began in limited areas, has now spread beyond the important religious city of Qom to new regions, including Mazandaran, Khuzestan, Hamadan and Fars provinces. Reports indicate that security forces opened fire on protesters in at least five cities, including Noorabad and Hamadan.

Meanwhile, calls for the overthrow of the Iranian government are growing louder. Protesters have been chanting slogans against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with some demonstrators openly demanding the restoration of the monarchy.

The protests erupted last Sunday (December 28) following a record collapse of the Iranian currency against the US dollar and a sharp surge in the cost of living, fueling widespread public anger across the country.

END/SMA/AJ