Iran finds itself increasingly isolated from the global community as protests escalate across the nation, with authorities implementing an internet blackout to quell the rising unrest. Dramatic footage has emerged showing buildings and vehicles engulfed in flames amid widespread anti-government demonstrations taking place in various cities.
In a recent televised speech, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei firmly rejected any notion of retreat, accusing the protesters of acting under the influence of exiled opposition groups and foreign powers, particularly the United States. Reports from human rights organizations indicate that police have resorted to firing upon demonstrators in southern parts of the country.
The current wave of unrest, although not yet mobilizing as many diverse segments of society as previous protests related to political, economic, or human rights issues over the last 15 years, has nonetheless resulted in numerous fatalities. The Iranian regime appears vulnerable, exacerbated by a severe economic crisis and the lingering impacts of last year’s conflict with Israel and the United States.
While the initial protests centered around economic grievances—triggered by the rial’s depreciation, which lost half its value against the dollar last year, alongside inflation rates exceeding 40%—the focus has since expanded to include direct criticisms aimed at the government.
As the internet blackout restricts information flow significantly, communication into Iran has been severely hampered, leading to the cancellation of at least 17 flights between Dubai and various Iranian cities, as reported by Dubai Airport's official website.
The protests ignited late last month when shopkeepers and merchants in bazaars began voicing their frustrations over soaring prices. However, the movement quickly spread to universities and other cities, where young men have clashed with security forces. State television has broadcast images claiming to show burning buses, cars, motorcycles, and flames erupting from underground stations and banks. Authorities have attributed the unrest to the People's Mujahedin Organisation, an opposition group that has been operating from abroad since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
A journalist from state television, reporting live from Shariati Street in the Caspian Sea port city of Rasht, described the scene as resembling a war zone, stating, "all the shops have been destroyed."
Verified videos from the capital, Tehran, depict hundreds marching through the streets. In one clip, a woman can be heard shouting, "Death to Khamenei!" This sentiment echoes throughout various protests.
In Zahedan, a city with a significant Baluch minority population, reports indicate that gunfire was used against protesters following Friday prayers, injuring several individuals.
Iranian authorities have adopted a dual strategy: they acknowledge the economic protests as legitimate while simultaneously condemning what they label as violent rioters and deploying security forces to suppress dissent. In his address, Khamenei reinforced his hardline stance, stating, "The Islamic Republic came to power through the blood of hundreds of thousands of honorable people. It will not back down in the face of vandals," further alleging that those involved in the protests are seeking to appease U.S. President Donald Trump.
Judiciary head Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei echoed this sentiment, declaring that penalties for rioters would be "decisive, maximal, and without legal leniency."
The fragmented nature of Iran's opposition factions abroad has led to calls for continued protests. Demonstrators have chanted slogans such as "Death to the dictator!" while expressing nostalgia for the monarchy that was overthrown in 1979. Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the deceased shah, has urged Iranians via social media: "The eyes of the world are upon you. Take to the streets."
However, the level of support within Iran for the monarchy or for the MKO, the most vocal opposition group in exile, remains a contentious issue. Trump, who previously bombed sites in Iran and recently hinted that the U.S. might support the protesters, distanced himself from Pahlavi, stating he was "not sure that it would be appropriate" to endorse him.
Germany has condemned the violence directed at protesters, emphasizing that the right to demonstrate and assemble must be safeguarded, and that media in Iran should be able to operate freely.
