Iran Protests Escalate Amid Internet Blackouts; Dozens Killed, Thousands Arrested

Anti-government protests in Iran continue despite internet and phone blackouts, following calls from exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi. Demonstrators in Tehran and other cities have clashed with security forces, leaving at least 45 dead and over 2,200 arrested. The protests, sparked by economic hardships, have grown into a broader challenge to the Islamic government. European leaders expressed support for the demonstrators, while U.S. President Donald Trump warned of possible military action if violence escalates.

Anti-government protests continued in Iran into Friday morning despite authorities cutting internet and international phone services. The demonstrations followed calls from the exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, for Iranians to take to the streets. Videos shared online before communications were restricted showed crowds in Tehran and other cities chanting slogans such as “Death to the dictator” and “Death to the Islamic Republic,” while fires burned in the streets.
According to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights NGO, at least 45 demonstrators have been killed by Iranian security forces since the unrest began in late December. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that more than 2,200 people have been arrested. Iranian state media acknowledged the protests and reported casualties, while accusing “terrorist agents” backed by the United States and Israel of inciting violence.
The demonstrations began in late December in Tehran over economic hardships and a plunging currency but have since grown into a broader movement challenging the legitimacy of the ruling Islamic government. On Thursday, mass protests were observed on Ayatollah Kashani Boulevard, a major avenue in northwest Tehran. Protests also spread to other areas, including Kurdish regions in the west, Tabriz in the north, and Mashhad in the east.
Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has expressed his support for the demonstrations, now in their eleventh day. Pahlavi called on Iranians to protest at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, urging them to unite and voice their demands. Demonstrators have reportedly chanted slogans supporting the exiled Pahlavi dynasty. “Great nation of Iran, the eyes of the world are upon you. Take to the streets, and as a united front, shout your demands,” Pahlavi posted on X.
Iranian security forces have been accused of opening fire on protesters, and the internet monitoring organization Netblocks reported that authorities have severely curtailed internet access. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist, urged authorities to exercise “utmost restraint” and called for dialogue, engagement, and listening to the people’s demands.
European officials have voiced support for the demonstrators. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul condemned the excessive use of force against peaceful protesters and urged Iran to uphold its international obligations. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola expressed solidarity with the protesters, saying, “The world is once again witnessing the brave people of Iran stand up. Europe stands by their side.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has previously suggested that the U.S. military could intervene if Iran violently targets peaceful protesters. In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump repeated that the United States would strike “very hard” if Iran began killing demonstrators. Last year, Trump ordered U.S. armed forces to take action against Iran in an effort to dismantle its nuclear enrichment capabilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the protests a moment for Iranians to “take their futures into their hands,” while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asserted that Iran “will not yield to the enemy.”
These protests represent one of the most precarious moments in Khamenei’s decades-long rule and the largest public demonstration since the 2022 death of Kurdish-Iranian woman Jina Mahsa Amini in police custody. Observers note growing discontent among the youth over Iran’s political system, social restrictions, and foreign policy. A former senior government official remarked that the younger generation no longer believes in revolutionary slogans and seeks freedom and normalcy. Residents like Mina from Kuhdasht in western Iran have echoed these sentiments, criticizing the government’s insistence on maintaining a nuclear program, supporting armed groups abroad, and sustaining hostility toward the United States, stating that such policies may have made sense in 1979 but are out of step with the modern world.