Iran is once again at the center of international attention as mass protests sweep through the streets, driven by public frustration over the country’s economy and governance.
Crowds have taken to Tehran and other cities despite a near-total internet blackout, signaling one of the most serious challenges to the Iranian government in years.
Khamenei Blames Protesters for Playing Into Foreign Hands
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, sharply criticized the demonstrators, accusing them of “ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy,” referring to US President Donald Trump.
Footage aired on Iranian state television captured supporters chanting “death to America” as Khamenei denounced Trump as a leader with “hands stained with the blood of Iranians.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, warned that any punishments for participants in the protests would be “decisive, maximum, and without any legal leniency,” highlighting the government’s firm stance against dissent.
Protesters Defy Blackouts to Make Their Voices Heard
Despite strict internet restrictions and limited phone services, activists have shared videos showing protesters lighting bonfires and marching through debris-strewn streets.
Iranian state media accused “terrorist agents” from the US and Israel of inciting the unrest, claiming there were casualties, though details were scarce.
The communication blackout has made it difficult to gauge the full scale of the demonstrations, which began on December 28 over economic grievances and have steadily intensified.
Analysts say these protests mark a turning point, testing whether the Iranian public could be influenced by calls from former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whose late father fled Iran ahead of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi Calls for Continued Demonstrations
Mr. Pahlavi, who encouraged Iranians to protest on Thursday night, urged citizens to take to the streets again at 8pm on Friday.
Some demonstrators even chanted in support of the former shah, an act that once carried a potential death sentence, demonstrating the depth of public anger.
According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 42 people have died and more than 2,270 have been detained amid the protests.
Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, explained that the crown prince’s call “turned the tide” of the demonstrations, inspiring many Iranians to actively challenge the Islamic Republic.
Internet Shutdowns Shield Security Forces
When the clock struck 8pm on Thursday, Tehran neighborhoods erupted in chants of “death to the dictator” and “death to the Islamic Republic.”
Thousands were reportedly on the streets before all communication to Iran was cut off.
Mr. Pahlavi condemned the regime’s response, calling for European nations to join Trump in supporting the Iranian people and restoring communications so their voices could be heard globally.
State Media Reports Violence and Property Damage
State television finally acknowledged the protests on Friday morning, claiming fires and attacks on private cars, motorcycles, metro stations, fire trucks, and buses.
The reports stressed casualties but did not provide specifics. The blackout also appears to have affected Iran’s state-run and semi-official news outlets.
Economic Struggles Fuel Discontent
Iran has faced repeated nationwide protests in recent years, worsened by economic instability and sanctions.
Following the 12-day conflict with Israel in June, the rial collapsed, reaching 1.4 million to one dollar by December, sparking widespread anger that quickly morphed into demonstrations against theocratic rule.
US Pressure and Trump’s Warnings
President Trump has repeatedly warned Iran against violently suppressing peaceful protests, promising US intervention if demonstrators are harmed.
In interviews with Hugh Hewitt and Sean Hannity, Trump reiterated that Tehran would “pay hell” if it targeted peaceful protesters and suggested that Khamenei himself may be considering leaving the country amid the unrest.
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