By Felice Friedson/The Media Line

On this edition of Facing the Middle East, host Felice Friedson frames Iran’s newest nationwide uprising as a fast-moving crisis with global stakes, not a contained domestic revolt. What began in late December as anger over economic hardship has expanded into mass demonstrations that Friedson says have swept millions of people into the streets across what some estimate to be hundreds of cities. With the Iranian rial sliding and inflation reaching 42.2% by the end of 2025, the protests have become a demand for freedom—and, for many, regime change.

Linked video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyWjGimVOAk