NPR's A Martinez speaks with Iranian-American author and journalist Hooman Majd about the current wave of protests facing Iran and what they mean for its future.

Anti-regime protests entered a fifth day as demonstrations spread across Tehran and other cities, with reports of deaths emerging amid escalating nationwide unrest.

It was only a matter of time until such gloom gave rise to another round of mass protest. The only question was what would trigger it. It came from an unlikely corner on December 28th, when electronics vendors in Tehran went on strike.

Despite being so far limited, this week’s protests mark the latest chapter in growing discontent in Iran, while a population quietly reclaims public spaces and personal freedoms through uncoordinated acts of defiance.

The protests erupted Sunday and gathered pace Monday after the Islamic Republic’s currency, the rial, hit a record low against the dollar. Many in Iran are already struggling with the cost of living, and rising prices have fueled concerns about potential hyperinflation.

For the Sun After Long Nights is an on-the-ground exploration of the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in Iran, one of the country's largest uprisings in decades, after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.