Fresh demonstrations swept through Iran’s capital on Thursday night after an appeal from exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, marking a sharp escalation in a protest movement that has been building for weeks across the country.
Streets Erupt as Communications Go Dark
As the clock struck 8 p.m., residents across Tehran poured into the streets or shouted from their rooftops, chanting slogans such as “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to the Islamic Republic!” Witnesses described thousands gathering in neighbourhoods throughout the city, with some also voicing support for the former monarchy.
Almost immediately after the protests began, internet access and phone services were cut nationwide. Internet monitoring firms Cloudflare and NetBlocks reported widespread outages, which they attributed to government interference. Attempts to reach Iran by landline or mobile phone from abroad failed, a pattern that in the past has often preceded forceful crackdowns by authorities.
The demonstrations, which initially began over Iran’s struggling economy, have now spread nationwide and taken on a more overtly political tone.
Death Toll Rises as Pressure Mounts
The Norway-based Iran Human Rights NGO says at least 45 demonstrators have been killed by security forces since protests began in late December. A separate US-based group, the Human Rights Activists News Agency, reported that at least 39 people have died and more than 2,260 have been detained so far.
Markets and bazaars in several cities shut down in solidarity with protesters, underscoring the breadth of the unrest. Analysts say the growing scale of the demonstrations is placing increasing pressure on Iran’s government and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, even as officials have largely avoided acknowledging the full extent of the protests.
Despite the intensity of the unrest, the movement remains largely leaderless. Observers say this has weakened past uprisings in Iran, as potential opposition figures have frequently been arrested, silenced, or forced into exile.
Pahlavi’s Call and International Reaction
The protests marked the first major test of whether Reza Pahlavi could mobilise mass support from abroad. In a statement, he urged Iranians to unite and demand change, warning Iran’s leadership and the Revolutionary Guard that the world was watching closely.
Chants praising the former shah—once punishable by death—highlighted the depth of anger driving the demonstrations. State-linked media appeared to take the threat seriously, with hard-line outlets warning that security forces could use drones to identify protesters.
International reactions have been swift. US President Donald Trump warned Tehran that violent repression of peaceful demonstrators would not go unanswered, drawing a sharp rebuke from Iran’s Foreign Ministry, which accused Washington of hypocrisy and interference. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola also voiced support, saying the world was witnessing the Iranian people’s demand for freedom and dignity.
As protests continue and communications remain restricted, the direction of Iran’s unrest remains uncertain. What is clear is that public frustration has reached a new level, and calls for change are growing harder for authorities to ignore.
