Tehran Unrest Deepens as Internet Blackout Shields Expanding Crackdown

Overview

Protests across Iran have escalated into one of the most significant challenges to the country’s leadership in years, with demonstrations spreading to all 31 provinces despite a near‑total shutdown of internet and international phone services. Authorities have issued explicit warnings that some protesters could face the death penalty, intensifying fears of a harsher crackdown.

Escalation of Protests

• Demonstrations began in late December after a sharp collapse in the value of the rial and worsening economic conditions, including soaring food prices and inflation near 40%.
• Protests have since grown into nationwide calls for political change, with tens of thousands taking to the streets in Tehran and other major cities.
• Activist networks report more than 340 protest events across the country, with unrest described as resembling a “war zone” in some areas due to fires, clashes, and destroyed property.

Casualties and Arrests

• Human rights monitors estimate at least 41–62 people killed, including both protesters and security personnel, though exact figures remain difficult to verify due to the blackout.
• More than 2,200–2,300 people have been detained nationwide, according to the US‑based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

Internet Blackout

• Iran has imposed a sweeping shutdown of mobile, landline, and international communications, now lasting more than 24 hours in some regions.
• Analysts say the blackout aims to prevent images of the protests from reaching the world and may provide cover for security forces to escalate violence without scrutiny.

Government Response

• Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused protesters of acting on behalf of foreign powers, particularly the United States, and warned that Iran “will not back down.
• Crowds at his televised address chanted “Death to America,” echoing the regime’s narrative that unrest is externally orchestrated.
• Iran’s judiciary chief has threatened “maximum” and “decisive” punishment for demonstrators, including the possibility of death sentences for those deemed responsible for violence or arson.

Role of Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi

• The exiled former crown prince has urged Iranians to take to the streets, calling for coordinated protests and strikes. His influence appears to be growing, with some demonstrators chanting pro‑monarchy slogans—once punishable by death in Iran.
• Pahlavi has appealed to Western governments to help restore internet access and amplify the voices of protesters.

International Reaction

• US President Donald Trump has warned Iran that the United States will “start shooting” if government forces kill peaceful demonstrators, escalating tensions between the two countries.
• Iranian officials have dismissed foreign criticism, insisting the unrest is being fuelled by “terrorist agents” linked to the US and Israel.

Economic and Social Drivers

• The protests are rooted in deep economic distress:
• A collapsing currency
• Rising prices for basic goods
• Cuts to fuel subsidies
• Long‑term effects of sanctions and the recent conflict with Israel
• These pressures have intensified public frustration with the government’s handling of the economy and its broader political direction.