Protests erupted across Iran on Friday, marking a significant escalation in anti-government demonstrations following a call to action from the country's exiled crown prince. Despite a severe internet and international phone blackout, citizens took to the streets in Tehran and other areas, chanting slogans against the ruling theocracy.
Nationwide Demonstrations and Communication Blackout
The Associated Press reported that protesters gathered around bonfires, with debris littering streets in the capital. The demonstrations, which represent the largest wave of dissent in three years, began on 28 December in Tehran's Grand Bazaar as shopkeepers protested the currency's collapse. They have since transformed into a broader challenge against Iran's Islamic regime, led by Supreme Leader Syed Ali Hosseini Khamenei.
In response, internet access and telephone lines were severely disrupted starting Thursday night. The internet monitoring firm Cloudflare and advocacy group NetBlocks confirmed a sharp reduction in traffic, pointing to government interference. Calls from Dubai to Iranian landlines and mobiles were also reportedly blocked.
The Role of Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi
The current protests faced a crucial test with the involvement of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. The prince, who lives in Washington, DC, and has been in exile since 1978, called for nationwide demonstrations at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. His father was the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who fled before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told AP that Pahlavi's call "turned the tide." Witnesses reported people shouting from their homes and rallying in the streets after his appeal. Chants included "Death to the dictator!" and others praising the former shah, with cries of "Pahlavi will return!"
Casualties, Crackdown, and International Reactions
The crackdown has turned violent. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that at least 42 people have been killed and more than 2,270 detained. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, stated the regime's response is growing "more violent and more extensive every day."
Iranian state media blamed "terrorist agents" of the US and Israel for setting fires and causing violence, reporting unspecified "casualties." Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for "utmost restraint" from security forces, urging them to avoid violence.
On the international front, US President Donald Trump renewed his threat, warning Iran would "pay hell" if it killed peaceful protesters. However, he ruled out meeting with Pahlavi, suggesting the US is not ready to back a successor. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has no war intentions but warned of a decisive response to any attack.
Pahlavi himself called on European leaders to join Trump in holding the regime accountable and to use all resources to restore communication for the Iranian people. The protests, sparked by a failing economy and a rial currency that hit 1.4 million to the dollar, continue to challenge the core of Iran's theocratic leadership.
