This publication presents the findings of Volunteer Activists’ (VA) systematic review of labor conditions and worker-led collective actions in Iran between July and December 2025. It forms part of VA’s ongoing biannual reporting on labor developments in the country.

Iran saw 455 labor protests across 34 sectors in 83 cities from January to June 2025, driven by soaring inflation and wage stagnation. The report highlights escalating unrest, intensified by the June Israeli attacks, and tracks legal developments, offering vital insights for policy and advocacy efforts supporting Iranian workers.

Fifth in a biannual series, this brief examines 577 labor protests from July–Dec 2024 across 30 cities, driven by soaring inflation, unpaid wages and an energy crisis. It spotlights pensioners, nurses and oil‑sector workers, details state tactics against activists, exposes dismissal and arrest risks, and pinpoints opportunities for CSOs and donors.

Volunteer Activists document 659 protests across 82 Iranian cities in H1 2024. High inflation, unpaid wages, and poor conditions have driven workers and pensioners to the streets, with risks persisting despite a brief easing of repression during the Iranian New Year amid political uncertainty after President Raisi’s death.