Iran protests: 'Death to the dictatorship'
Global News Podcast
BBC
4.2 • 7.8K Ratings
🗓️ 31 December 2025
⏱️ 30 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Protests over Iran's worsening economic problems have spread from the capital, Tehran, to other major cities. University students have now joined the demonstrations, calling for an end to poverty and corruption. How will the government respond? Also: the US places sanctions on Iranians and Venezuelans accused of the "aggressive and reckless proliferation of deadly weapons". Poland considers a bill to recognise same-sex couples for the first time. Some of the world's top aid organisations are set to be barred from Gaza under new Israeli rules. And researchers try a creative way of addressing homelessness.
The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected]
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, podcasts. |
| 0:05.4 | This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. |
| 0:11.0 | I'm Paul Moss, and in the early hours of Wednesday, the 31st of December, these are our main stories. |
| 0:17.1 | Iran's government says it will listen to protesters' complaints as demonstrations spread across the country. |
| 0:23.7 | The US lays sanctions on Iranians in Venezuelans |
| 0:26.7 | allegedly involved in trading weapons parts and technology. |
| 0:30.6 | What do we know about the ties between Tehran and Caracas? |
| 0:34.0 | And Poland considers a bill which would for the first time |
| 0:37.2 | give official recognition to same-sex couples. |
| 0:41.6 | Also in this podcast, it's a catastrophe. Over 2 million innocent people trapped in the prison that is the Gaza Strip. |
| 0:49.1 | And now we're seeing aid continue to be obstructed and with help. |
| 0:53.7 | With new warnings about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, |
| 0:57.4 | aid organizations face being kicked out by Israel from January 1st. |
| 1:05.0 | It started with shopkeepers. |
| 1:07.6 | Now Iran's latest protest movement has been taken up by students. Poverty, corruption, |
| 1:17.0 | tyranny, death to the dictatorship they chanted in the capital Tehran. But Tuesday saw demonstrations |
| 1:22.7 | reported at 10 universities across the country. |
| 1:35.9 | When it comes to facing down protest, Iran's rulers don't usually hold back. |
| 1:39.6 | The last major movement in 2022 was perhaps typical. |
| 1:42.7 | Security forces opened fire on crowds. |
| 1:47.1 | More than 500 people were killed and around 20,000 arrested, |
| 1:53.2 | according to human rights groups. This time, though, seems very different. With the Iranian president adopting what certainly sounds like a conciliatory tone, the government should listen to the protesters |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in 26 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.