Tehran: Protests Intensify Across Iran Amid Economic Crisis; Dozens Killed

At least 42 people have been killed in ongoing anti-government protests across Iran triggered by a deepening economic crisis, according to rights groups.

As demonstrations intensified, authorities imposed a nationwide internet shutdown in an apparent attempt to curb coordination among protesters.

The unrest, which began in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar over soaring inflation and rising living costs, has since spread to major cities including Isfahan, Abadan, and Kermanshah. Protesters have been chanting slogans such as “Death to the dictator” and “Reza Pahlavi will return,” while waving Iran’s pre-revolutionary national flag from the era of the monarchy.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 42 people have been killed and more than 2,270 arrested so far. Iranian authorities, however, have officially acknowledged only 21 deaths, including security personnel. In Isfahan, demonstrators reportedly set fire to a building linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In Tehran, security forces deployed to contain the protests were eventually forced to withdraw, with several of their vehicles torched by demonstrators.

As protests escalated, Iran imposed a nationwide internet blackout beginning Thursday night. International telephone services have also been disrupted, according to internet watchdog NetBlocks. Amnesty International has accused Iranian security forces of using lethal weapons against protesters.

The internet shutdown followed a call by exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi—who was forced into exile during the 1979 Islamic Revolution—for intensified protests against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Describing Iran’s youth as the “Generation V for Victory,” Pahlavi urged demonstrators to sustain unity and cooperation, asserting that continued resistance would ensure success. He also called on protesters to take control of streets and dismantle barricades.

In response, Supreme Leader Khamenei accused “foreign enemies” of orchestrating the unrest through hired agents. Despite the communications blackout, protests have continued unabated, according to AFP.

In western Iran, Kurdish opposition parties have called for a general strike in solidarity with the protesters. Reports indicate that the strike affected around 30 cities and towns. Even amid heightened security measures and communication restrictions, demonstrators continue to defy government controls.

International reactions have also mounted. US President Donald Trump had earlier warned of strong consequences if violence against protesters continued, while Germany condemned Iran’s handling of the unrest. Reza Pahlavi has appealed to democratic nations to use all available technical and diplomatic means to restore internet access for the Iranian people.

The protests began on December 28 after Iran’s currency, the rial, plunged to a record low, exacerbating public anger over economic mismanagement. What started as demonstrations over economic hardship has since evolved into a broader movement openly challenging Iran’s political leadership, with much of the anger directed at Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.