Since late December, Iran has seen a surge in protests, with the Norway-based Iran Human Rights NGO reporting that at least 45 demonstrators have been killed by security forces. What began as demonstrations over economic hardship has grown into a nationwide challenge to the government.
Streets of Tehran Fill with Protesters
On Thursday night, residents of Tehran and other cities responded to a call from exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, shouting from their homes and gathering in the streets. Witnesses reported chants of “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to the Islamic Republic!” while some voiced support for the former monarchy, shouting, “This is the last battle! Pahlavi will return!”
Pahlavi urged Iranians to unite and make their voices heard, warning the government and Revolutionary Guard that suppression “will not go unanswered.” Almost immediately, internet and telephone lines were cut, with Cloudflare and NetBlocks attributing the outages to government interference—a tactic often preceding harsh crackdowns.
Rising Toll and Detentions
The protests have spread beyond the capital, with markets and bazaars closing in solidarity. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 39 people have been killed and over 2,260 detained. Despite the scale, the movement remains largely leaderless, leaving its future direction uncertain. Analysts note that past protests have struggled due to the arrest and exile of potential dissident leaders.
Global Eyes on Iran
International attention has intensified. US President Donald Trump warned that violent suppression of protesters would trigger American action, while Iran’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the warning as hypocritical. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola praised the courage of Iranian citizens, saying their “cry for freedom, dignity, and the choice to govern themselves has been heard across the globe.”
As the protests continue amid communication blackouts and the threat of further violence, Iran faces growing internal pressure while the world watches closely.
