Iran traders protest as rial plunges

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Traders in Iran have staged a second day of protests in Tehran, with many closing their shops and marching through key commercial areas to protest the collapse of the rial. Videos on social media show crowds chanting slogans against the government of President Masoud Pezeshkian, as officials warn against unrest and blame sanctions for the currency’s sharp fall.

Also, the hacking of Jaguar Land Rover has highlighted growing cyber vulnerabilities in the global car industry.

And with global military spending at record highs, we look at how defence budgets have surged in response to war and rising geopolitical tensions, with analysis from defence budget expert.

(Image: A Iranian man sells boiled beetroot and lava beans in Tajrish Bazaar in Tehran, Iran, 08 December 2025. Credit: ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA/Shutterstock.)
30 Dec 2025 4AM English United Kingdom Business

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