Iran faced a sweeping internet shutdown on Thursday evening as anti-government demonstrations spread to major urban centres, fuelling concerns of a harsher security response amid deepening economic distress.
Residents in Tehran, Mashhad, Ilam and dozens of other cities reported sudden disruptions to internet and telephone services shortly after fresh protests erupted following nightfall, reports CNN.
Despite the blackout, short video clips of marches, street blockades and fiery slogans continued to surface online, marking the second consecutive week of countrywide unrest.
Cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks described the move as a familiar tactic by Iranian authorities.
“These national blackouts often precede violent crackdowns and are designed to block information flows and reduce international scrutiny,” its director Alp Toker told CNN.
Deadly toll mounts, thousands detained
The latest wave of demonstrations began nearly two weeks ago and has since expanded to more than 100 locations. According to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), at least 45 protesters, among them eight minors, have been killed, while hundreds have suffered injuries and more than 2,000 have been detained. The figures could not be independently verified, and Iranian state media has released limited casualty data.
Video reviewed by international media showed protesters chanting slogans critical of the theocratic leadership, while groups carried signs and roadblocks in different parts of Tehran.
Some crowds appeared to respond to calls from exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who urged Iranians to demonstrate “as a united front” and posted messages of support on X.
US warns Iran against deadly force
The deteriorating situation prompted US President Donald Trump on Thursday to reiterate his earlier threat of military action if Iranian forces open fire on demonstrators.
“They know that if they begin killing people in the streets … we will respond very strongly,” Trump said during an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt.
The unrest was initially driven by economic grievances. Bazaar merchants and students in Tehran launched organised demonstrations over soaring prices, a weakening currency and shortages of basic goods.
A recent central bank decision removing preferential dollar access for certain importers triggered overnight price spikes for essential commodities such as cooking oil and poultry.
With inflation running rampant, everyday Iranians say medicine and food have become unaffordable. “Everything is getting more expensive by the hour.
People are anxious because they cannot keep up,” a 30-year-old Tehran resident told reporters on condition of anonymity.
Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad said the protests have since evolved, with demonstrators calling for political change rather than incremental reforms. “People are saying they want the end of the Islamic Republic,” she told CNN.
Flashpoints across provinces
Provinces such as Ilam and Lorestan have emerged as focal points, where demonstrators were filmed lighting fires and chanting against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Verified footage from northern Mazandaran province showed crowds shouting calls for Khamenei’s removal, while separate videos from Golestan and Mashhad showed state symbols being targeted and government buildings set ablaze.
IranWire and Reuters circulated additional clips from Tabriz and Mashhad showing gunfire sounds, flag removals and clashes, although the origin of gunshots could not be determined. IHRNGO alleges that security forces used live ammunition and carried out extensive arrests in some cities.
Iranian state-affiliated outlets reported injuries among the security forces as well, saying at least 950 police officers and 60 Basij members were wounded. They also reported five personnel killed, including two from the Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Largest unrest since Mahsa Amini protests
Observers say this is Iran’s most significant upheaval since demonstrations over the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022.
Unlike previous episodes, this wave began within Tehran’s commercial heart and now runs against the backdrop of heightened foreign tension following recent US-Israeli strikes inside Iran.
Paralysed governance, few solutions
President Masoud Pezeshkian, elected on a platform promising economic relief, has blamed US sanctions, corruption and mismanagement for the crisis.
His government briefly attempted to soften the blow by offering small cash transfers of roughly $7 per month, though it acknowledged the measure was insufficient.
Analysts argue that without structural reforms or a credible political alternative, the stalemate is unlikely to translate into regime collapse.
“None of Iran’s leaders have a path out of the current crises,” said Arang Keshavarzian of New York University, adding that many citizens no longer believe authorities will address their grievances.
For now, the blackout endures, the protests continue, and Iran’s leadership confronts one of its most serious domestic challenges in years—fueled by economic desperation, political defiance and a population unsure of what comes next.
