Widespread demonstrations erupted across Tehran and other Iranian cities on Thursday night, following an appeal from exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. The protests, initially sparked by economic hardships, have taken on a political dimension, with thousands calling for change and defying government restrictions.
Streets Fill with Chants Despite Communication Blackout
At 8 p.m. local time, neighborhoods across Tehran came alive with the sound of chants and shouts. Witnesses reported cries of “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to the Islamic Republic!” alongside calls supporting the former monarchy, with slogans like “This is the last battle! Pahlavi will return!”
Almost immediately, internet services and phone lines were cut off. Cloudflare, a global internet monitoring firm, and NetBlocks, an internet freedom advocacy group, confirmed the outage and attributed it to government intervention. Calls from Dubai to Iran failed to connect, a tactic that in the past has preceded intense crackdowns by Iranian authorities.
Pahlavi had urged citizens to unite and make their voices heard:
“Great nation of Iran, the eyes of the world are upon you. Take to the streets and, as a united front, shout your demands,” he said, warning the Revolutionary Guard and Iranian leadership that the world, including US President Donald Trump, was watching.
Rising Tensions and a Growing Death Toll
The Norway-based Iran Human Rights NGO reports that 45 demonstrators have been killed by security forces since the protests began in late December. Meanwhile, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency says over 2,260 people have been detained, and at least 39 fatalities are linked to clashes around the protests.
Markets and bazaars in multiple cities closed in solidarity with the demonstrators, showing broad support for the movement. Analysts warn that the unrest is increasing pressure on both Iran’s civilian government and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Despite the scale of the protests, the movement remains largely leaderless. Nate Swanson of the Atlantic Council, who studies Iran, noted that a lack of organized leadership has historically weakened protest efforts, as the security apparatus has systematically removed potential transformative figures.
International Attention and Uncertain Future
The international community has taken notice. Former US President Donald Trump warned Iran against violently suppressing peaceful protesters, while the European Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola praised the courage of Iranians, saying their calls for dignity and freedom have been heard worldwide.
Iranian state media, including the hardline Kayhan newspaper, suggested security forces might use drones to monitor demonstrators. Yet, officials have made no public statement acknowledging the scale of the unrest, which has continued across the country even before Pahlavi’s scheduled demonstrations on Friday.
With communication networks disrupted and crowds gathering nationwide, the future of the protests remains uncertain. For now, Iranians continue to voice their frustration, making it clear that calls for political and social change are growing louder.
