The nationwide protests in Iran intensified sharply on Thursday as demonstrators set fire to government buildings across several cities, marking the 12th consecutive day of unrest against the country’s religious establishment. The escalation prompted authorities to impose a sweeping internet and international communications blackout, cutting off millions from the outside world amid fears of a broader crackdown.
Human rights groups estimate that at least 42 people have been killed since the protests began, while more than 2,270 individuals have been detained. The figures were cited by the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been tracking casualties and arrests through on-ground networks.
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Internet shut, streets on edge
Late Thursday night, internet monitoring firms Cloudflare and NetBlocks reported a near-total shutdown of internet connectivity across Iran, attributing it to deliberate government interference. International phone calls were also disrupted, with reports indicating that calls from Dubai to Iranian landlines and mobile phones failed to connect.
Such blackouts have historically preceded intensified security operations in Iran, aimed at curbing mobilisation and restricting the flow of information. Iranian state television, however, made no mention of the outage in its 24-hour news coverage, instead focusing on food subsidies and economic relief measures during its early-morning broadcasts.
In the capital Tehran, residents reported hearing chants from rooftops and streets after nightfall, with protesters shouting slogans such as “Death to the dictator” and “Death to the Islamic Republic,” witnesses said.
Economic pressure fuels unrest
The protests are unfolding against the backdrop of a deepening economic crisis. The collapse of Iran’s currency, the rial, has sharply driven up prices of essentials such as meat, rice and cooking oil. Official data and independent estimates place annual inflation at around 40%, eroding household purchasing power.
In December, the government raised prices of subsidised gasoline and announced plans to review fuel prices every three months. The recent withdrawal of a preferential dollar–rial exchange rate for most imports—excluding medicine and wheat—is expected to push food prices even higher, economists warn.
What began in late December as demonstrations by Tehran merchants over rising costs has since evolved into wider anti-government protests, reflecting years of pent-up frustration over economic hardship, corruption allegations and political repression.
Roots of anger run deep
Public anger has been building since the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody, an incident that triggered widespread protests and intensified scrutiny of Iran’s morality laws and security forces.
Iran’s modern political history also looms large. Once a close US ally under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the country underwent a dramatic shift after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which established the current theocratic system.
On Thursday and Friday, calls for renewed demonstrations were issued by the country’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, urging citizens to protest at a designated hour each evening. When the time arrived, neighbourhoods across Tehran and other cities echoed with chants, witnesses said.
Government response hardens
Iranian authorities have accused foreign powers of stoking unrest, with officials and state-linked media repeatedly alleging the involvement of the US and Israel—claims that protesters and independent observers reject. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned of decisive action against what he described as “rioters,” signalling little room for compromise.
Analysts say the current wave of protests represents one of the most serious domestic challenges to the Iranian leadership in recent years, not because of its scale alone, but due to the breadth of grievances—economic, social and political—driving it.
Uncertain road ahead
With communications curtailed and security forces on high alert, the immediate trajectory of the protests remains uncertain. Past crackdowns have temporarily quelled unrest, but underlying pressures—high inflation, unemployment and public distrust—continue to simmer.
For now, Iran finds itself at a volatile crossroads: a population increasingly willing to defy authority, and a state determined to reassert control, even at the cost of further isolation and internal strain.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
