Amid rising prices, a collapsing economy and repeated crackdowns by the security forces, the protests against Iran’s Islamic regime, led by Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, have intensified in Tehran, with Iranians taking to the streets, shouting slogans against the ruling theocratic regime, NDTV reported.
As chants for freedom echoed across neighborhoods, Iran’s government under President Masoud Pezeshkian responded by pulling the digital plug.
Internet and international calls were blocked, a familiar tactic that often signals an imminent and forceful crackdown by Iran’s security apparatus.
The protests have also taken on a symbolic edge. Some demonstrators appear to be responding to calls from exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, invoking memories of Iran before the 1979 revolution and revealing how deep public frustration has grown.
Pahlavi had called for demonstrations at 8 pm local time on Thursday and Friday.
At precisely 8 pm, the Iranians responded. From residential blocks to busy streets, coordinated chants broke out almost instantly, suggesting a level of organization and shared resolve rarely seen in recent years.
The chants included “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to the Islamic Republic!” Others praised the shah, shouting: “This is the last battle! Pahlavi will return!”.
What began in Tehran has spread far beyond the capital. From major cities to smaller towns, shutdowns of bazaars and markets point to growing economic solidarity with protesters—and rising pressure on Iran’s leadership.
The human cost is mounting. At least 42 people have been killed and thousands detained, according to rights groups, reinforcing fears that the internet blackout could be a precursor to a harsher phase of state repression.
The current protests, the biggest wave of dissent in three years, began last month in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar by shopkeepers condemning the currency’s free fall.
While officials admit life has become harder for ordinary Iranians, the state continues to frame the protests as foreign-instigated—an argument many on the streets appear to be openly rejecting.
In a post on X, Pahlavi slammed the Khamenei regime for snapping Internet services across Iran and thanked US President Donald Trump for reiterating his promise to hold Tehran to account.
“Millions of Iranians demanded their freedom tonight. In response, the regime in Iran has cut all lines of communication. It has shut down the Internet. It has cut landlines. It may even attempt to jam satellite signals,” he said.
“I want to thank the leader of the free world, President Trump, for reiterating his promise to hold the regime to account. It is time for others, including European leaders, to follow his lead, break their silence, and act more decisively in support of the people of Iran,” he added.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Thursday issued a sharp warning to Iran’s leadership, saying the US would take severe action if authorities escalate their response to protests and begin killing demonstrators.
“I have let them know that if they start killing people, which they tend to do during their riots — they have lots of riots — if they do it, we are going to hit them very hard,” Trump said.
Also Read: Reports Claim Possible US Intervention, Khamenei Exit Plan As Iran Protests Intensify