Iran’s ongoing protest movement escalated sharply this week, with thousands rallying across Tehran and other cities following a call from exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi. Human rights groups say the unrest has already turned deadly, underscoring the country’s deepening political and social crisis.
Protesters Defy Restrictions as Communications Cut
On Thursday night, witnesses reported that residents in Tehran shouted from their windows and joined street demonstrations after Pahlavi urged citizens to take part in a mass protest at 8 pm local time. Chants of “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to the Islamic Republic!” filled neighbourhoods, while some expressed support for the former monarchy, shouting, “This is the last battle! Pahlavi will return!”
Almost immediately, Iran’s internet and phone networks were disrupted. CloudFlare, an internet monitoring firm, and advocacy group NetBlocks confirmed widespread outages, attributing them to government interference. Calls from Dubai to Iran failed to connect, a tactic often preceding heavy-handed crackdowns.
The protests, which began in late December over economic hardship, have spread nationwide, reflecting growing discontent with both local governance and the broader political system.
Rising Casualties and Pressure on Leadership
According to Norway-based Iran Human Rights, 45 demonstrators have been killed by security forces since the protests began. Meanwhile, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that more than 2,260 people have been detained, with at least 39 confirmed dead amid violence linked to demonstrations.
Markets and bazaars in several cities shuttered in solidarity with protesters, increasing pressure on the civilian government and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hardline media, like the Kayhan newspaper, have indicated that security forces could use drones to monitor participants, highlighting the risks faced by demonstrators.
Pahlavi’s Call Tests a Leaderless Movement
This week marked the first real test of whether Reza Pahlavi — whose father fled Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution — could influence events inside the country. In a statement, he called on Iranians to unite and voice their demands, warning that international observers, including US President Donald Trump, were watching.
“The world and its leaders are closely observing you,” Pahlavi said. “Suppression of the people will not go unanswered.”
Analysts note the movement remains broadly leaderless, a factor that has hampered past protests. Nate Swanson of the Atlantic Council highlighted that many potential Iranian leaders have been arrested, exiled, or silenced.
International reactions continue to flow in. Trump warned that any violent suppression of protesters would trigger a US response, while European Parliament President Roberta Metsola praised the courage of Iranians, stating: “The people of Iran are not protesting, they are crying out. Europe hears them, the world hears them.”
As communications remain restricted and tensions rise, it remains uncertain whether the unrest will evolve into a sustained political movement or provoke a harsher state crackdown.
