Iran experienced a nationwide internet blackout on Thursday as protests spread across the country amid anger over the cost of living and the falling rial. Rights groups and media cited different death tolls from a crackdown, while US President Donald Trump warned Iran of severe consequences if protesters are killed.
The unrest began 12 days ago, with reports tying the start of the protests to turmoil around Iran’s currency and prices. As demonstrations widened, analysts quoted by The National described the protests as driven by a search for economic stability and said deeper internal problems will shape what happens next.
Internet access cut as rallies spread
NetBlocks, an online watchdog, reported that Iran was in the midst of a “nationwide internet blackout,” saying the outage followed escalating digital censorship measures targeting protests and hindered communication. NetBlocks also reported a “loss of connectivity” in Kermanshah, describing indications of disruptions in multiple regions.
A US-based outlet, the Human Rights Activists News Agency, claimed rallies took place in 348 locations across all 31 provinces. Reza Pahlavi, described as the son of the shah who was ousted in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, urged major new protests on Thursday and warned authorities could cut internet access to stop information from leaving the country.
Times of Israel reported that the largest protests yet of nearly two weeks took place as authorities cut internet access and the death toll from a crackdown mounted. It also reported that thousands responded to Pahlavi’s call by shouting from their homes and rallying outside, describing it as an early test of whether the public could be swayed by him.
Conflicting accounts of deaths and arrests
Ahram Online reported that local media and official statements cited at least 21 people killed since the unrest began, including security forces. The same report said Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based NGO, claimed security forces had killed at least 45 protesters, including eight minors, and said Wednesday was the bloodiest day with 13 protesters reported killed.
Times of Israel also reported that rights groups said at least 45 protesters, including eight minors, had been killed since the rallies began on December 28. Ahram Online reported that these figures could not be independently confirmed and said Iran Human Rights also claimed hundreds were wounded and more than 2,000 arrested.
Ahram Online reported that Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian called for “utmost restraint” in handling demonstrations and said “any violent or coercive behaviour should be avoided.” It also reported that rights groups accused authorities of tactics including raiding hospitals to detain wounded protesters, and cited Amnesty International as saying protests had been met with unlawful force.
Strike calls and protest flashpoints
Ahram Online reported that Iraq-based Iranian Kurdish opposition parties, including the outlawed Komala party, called for a general strike in Kurdish-populated areas in western Iran. The Hengaw rights group, which focuses on Kurds and other ethnic minorities in western Iran, said the strike call was widely followed in about 30 towns and cities and posted footage of shuttered shops in Ilam, Kermanshah and Lorestan provinces.
Hengaw accused authorities of firing on demonstrators in Kermanshah and the nearby town of Kamyaran and said several protesters were injured, while also alleging the internet was cut in the region. Ahram Online reported that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard later said two of its fighters were killed “during an armed clash with separatist elements in the city.”
Ahram Online also reported that protesters in Kuhchenar in Fars province were seen in a verified video pulling down a statue of Qassem Soleimani, a former foreign operations commander of the Revolutionary Guards who was killed in a US strike in January 2020. The report added that images posted on social media showed a crowd again demonstrating in Abadan on Thursday.
Trump issues warning as economy worsens
Times of Israel reported that President Donald Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt that Iran would be “hit… very hard” if it starts killing people during the protests, and said the regime would “pay hell.” In the same interview, Trump questioned whether all reported deaths were caused by law enforcement, mentioning stampedes as another cause.
Times of Israel reported that Trump had issued a similar warning last Friday, saying the US would “come to their rescue” if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters.” It also reported that Trump told protesters, “You should feel strongly about freedom… You’re brave people,” and said he was not sure it would be appropriate to meet Pahlavi “at this point.”
The National reported that the protests were triggered by the plummeting rial and soaring living costs and said authorities tried a dual approach—acknowledging the crisis and offering dialogue, while meeting forceful dissent with violence. It quoted economist Mohammad Farzanegan calling the protests “the desperate gasps of a society that has lost its economic buffer,” and said merchants were closing shops because rapid currency losses made pricing difficult.
On currency levels, the sources presented different figures. Times of Israel said the rial reached 1.4 million to $1 in December, while The National said it was trading at more than 146,000 to the US dollar on the parallel market on Thursday and used about 150,000 rials to the dollar to describe the value of a new allowance.
The National reported that inflation was 52.6% in December, citing official data, and said the government announced a new monthly allowance that offers a family of four 40 million rial in monthly credit, worth about $26 at the current market exchange rate it cited. Times of Israel reported that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said “The Iranian economy is on the ropes,” referenced high inflation, and called it a “precarious moment.”
The National reported that US sanctions reimposed in 2018 after Trump withdrew the US from the nuclear deal have not been lifted, and said “snapback” sanctions were imposed by Britain, France and Germany last September. It also cited IMF estimates forecasting Iran’s growth at 1.1% this year (up from about 0.6% in 2025) and inflation at 41.6% this year (down from 42.4% in 2025).
