Iranian women are using burning photographs of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to light cigarettes, a symbolic act of defiance against both political authority and social restrictions. These protests, initially sparked by economic hardship, have evolved into a broader challenge to the Islamic Republic, with chants against Khamenei and calls for regime change. Authorities have responded with a crackdown, including internet shutdowns, while international bodies condemn the violence and urge restraint. Khamenei has labeled protesters as 'vandals' and 'saboteurs,' accusing foreign powers of backing the unrest.