Iran's Currency in Freefall: Protests Erupt as Rial Loses Half Its Value

A sudden, severe crash in Iran's currency has sparked new public protests across the country. The value of the Iranian rial has dropped by more than 50 percent against the US dollar in just six months. This economic collapse has triggered the latest wave of street demonstrations. Analysts say the dramatic devaluation has made basic goods much harder to afford for ordinary citizens. The protests appear fueled more by desperation over living conditions than by political hope. The Iranian government has yet to announce a formal response to the currency crisis or the unrest.