Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have declared security a “red line” and Iran’s military has vowed to protect public property as protests continued into a second week alongside an extended internet blackout.
Rights groups and activists have raised alarm about what they describe as a growing and deadly crackdown, while Iranian officials and state media have blamed unrest on violent “rioters” and outside forces.
The protests, reported across multiple cities, began in response to soaring inflation in Iran and then quickly shifted into political demands, according to Reuters’ account carried by Gulf Today. The Express Tribune, citing AFP, described the demonstrations as among the biggest challenges to Iran’s theocratic authorities in years.
Security forces issue warnings
In statements broadcast by Iranian state TV, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said maintaining security was a “red line” and called the continuation of the situation “unacceptable,” according to Reuters’ report published by Gulf Today. The IRGC also accused “terrorists” of targeting military and law enforcement bases over two nights, and said citizens and security personnel were killed and property was set on fire.
Iran’s regular military, which operates separately from the IRGC but is also commanded by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said it would protect national interests, strategic infrastructure, and public property. Separately, The Express Tribune reported Iran’s army said it would “vigorously protect and safeguard national interests” against an “enemy seeking to disrupt order and peace.”
Iranian state media reported that a municipal building was set on fire in Karaj, west of Tehran, and blamed “rioters,” Reuters reported in Gulf Today. The Express Tribune, citing AFP, also said Iranian state TV aired images of buildings, including a mosque, on fire.
Internet blackout and communications disruption
Authorities continued to impose an internet blackout as protests persisted, according to Reuters’ report carried by Gulf Today. The Express Tribune reported that NetBlocks said Iran had been offline for 48 hours as of Saturday evening.
The Jerusalem Post reported that NetBlocks said internet connectivity dropped across multiple service providers during nationwide protests against economic hardships, and described the disruption as a “digital blackout” affecting Tehran and other areas. The same report said the Associated Press described failed attempts to connect calls from Dubai to Iranian landlines and mobile phones, suggesting telephone service may also have been suspended.
Protests spread and slogans intensify
The Express Tribune reported that new demonstrations took place late Friday after what it described as the movement’s largest protests yet on Thursday, based on verified images and social media videos. AFP-verified video cited by The Express Tribune showed people in Tehran’s Saadatabad district banging pots and chanting anti-government slogans, including “death to Khamenei,” as cars honked in support.
The Express Tribune said other images circulating on social media and on Persian-language TV channels outside Iran showed large gatherings elsewhere in Tehran, as well as in Mashhad, Tabriz, and Qom. It also reported that in Hamedan a man was shown waving a shah-era Iranian flag featuring the lion and the sun, and that the same flag briefly replaced Iran’s current flag over the country’s embassy in London after protesters reached a balcony, according to witnesses cited by AFP.
The Jerusalem Post reported that footage shared on social media showed crowds gathering and chanting anti-regime slogans, and said thousands were shown in videos filling streets in Tehran, Shiraz, Kermanshah, and Tabriz, among other cities. It also reported videos emerging from Shadabad, Tehran, showing people chanting “Long live the Shah.”
Death toll reports and rights groups’ concerns
Amnesty International said it was analyzing “distressing reports” that security forces had intensified unlawful lethal force since Thursday, The Express Tribune reported. The Express Tribune also reported that the Norway-based Iran Human Rights group said at least 51 people had been killed so far, while warning the actual toll could be higher.
Reuters’ report in Gulf Today said rights groups have documented dozens of deaths of protesters. In the same Reuters account, a doctor in northwestern Iran said large numbers of injured protesters were brought to hospitals, describing injuries including head trauma, broken limbs, and deep cuts.
That doctor said at least 20 people in one hospital had been shot with live ammunition and five later died, according to Reuters’ report published by Gulf Today. The Express Tribune also reported that the Hengaw rights group said it confirmed five Kurdish men were shot dead in Kermanshah on Thursday and that another man, described as a former bodybuilding champion, was killed in Rasht on Friday.
The Jerusalem Post, citing reports, stated that at least 36 people had been killed since the protests began on December 28, including two members of the security forces, and that more than 2,000 people had been arrested. It also reported that Hengaw said two Iranian regime officers were killed in Kermanshah, citing Iranian state media.
Leaders trade accusations and issue statements
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has expressed defiance and blamed the United States, according to The Express Tribune’s report citing AFP. Reuters’ report carried by Gulf Today said Khamenei accused protesters of acting on behalf of US President Donald Trump and warned Tehran would not tolerate people acting as “mercenaries for foreigners.”
The Express Tribune reported that National Security Council chief Ali Larijani said Iran was “in the middle of a war,” and claimed the incidents were being directed from outside. Reuters’ report in Gulf Today said Iranian authorities accused the United States and Israel of fomenting what they called “the riots.”
US President Donald Trump said the United States was “ready to help,” posting on Truth Social that Iran was “looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before,” The Express Tribune reported. Reuters’ report carried by Gulf Today also said Trump issued a warning on Friday: “You better not start shooting because we’ll start shooting too,” and added he hoped protesters would be safe.
Reuters’ report carried by Gulf Today said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “The United States supports the brave people of Iran.” The Express Tribune reported European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe backed Iranians’ mass protests and condemned “violent repression,” while Reuters’ report in Gulf Today said the leaders of France, Britain, and Germany issued a joint statement condemning the killing of protesters and urging Iranian authorities to refrain from violence.
Reza Pahlavi’s calls to expand action
Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Iran’s ousted shah, has urged more targeted protests and called for protesters to prepare to “seize and hold city centres,” according to The Express Tribune citing AFP. Reuters’ report carried by Gulf Today said Pahlavi also called on workers and employees in key sectors—especially transportation and oil, gas, and energy—to begin a nationwide strike.
The Jerusalem Post reported Pahlavi warned the government might cut internet access to stifle unrest and argued that cutting the internet would energize the protest movement. It also reported that Pahlavi thanked Trump for support and urged European leaders to act more decisively to help restore communication to people in Iran.
