Iran's protests have taken a deadly turn, with at least 65 people killed and over 2,300 arrested as the country's authorities crack down on demonstrators. The unrest, which began in Tehran in late December over economic grievances, has escalated into a full-blown challenge to the government, with many protesters calling for regime change.
The Iranian leadership has responded with force, shutting down the internet and cutting off telephone lines to the world. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused US President Donald Trump of "stained hands" in remarks aired on Iranian state TV, as supporters gathered before him shouted "Death to America!"
Trump has repeatedly pledged to back peaceful protesters, but warned that any American strike would be aimed at Iran's leadership and would be "very, very hard". The president suggested that the US was willing to take action if Iranian authorities started shooting at protesters.
Iran's judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, vowed that punishment for protesters would be "decisive, maximum and without any legal leniency." However, Maziar Bahari, editor of the IranWire news website, said that Trump's warnings had "scared many Iranian officials" but also inspired more people to take part in the protests.
The exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has been a key figure behind the momentum of this round of protests. He called on Iranians to seize control of towns and cities by overwhelming them, saying that his goal was no longer just to take to the streets but to "prepare to seize and hold city centers". The 86-year-old prince declared that he was "preparing to return to my homeland", suggesting that his day of return is "very near".
However, it's unclear how much support Pahlavi has inside the country. His father, Iran's Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was widely despised inside Iran when he fled into exile himself amid street protests in 1979.
The situation on the ground remains dire, with many protesters facing violent crackdowns and limited access to information due to internet shutdowns. The exact death toll is unclear, but reports put it at over 200 people. The protests have been recorded in at least 180 cities, with many more believed to be unreported.
The Iranian leadership has responded with force, shutting down the internet and cutting off telephone lines to the world. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused US President Donald Trump of "stained hands" in remarks aired on Iranian state TV, as supporters gathered before him shouted "Death to America!"
Trump has repeatedly pledged to back peaceful protesters, but warned that any American strike would be aimed at Iran's leadership and would be "very, very hard". The president suggested that the US was willing to take action if Iranian authorities started shooting at protesters.
Iran's judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, vowed that punishment for protesters would be "decisive, maximum and without any legal leniency." However, Maziar Bahari, editor of the IranWire news website, said that Trump's warnings had "scared many Iranian officials" but also inspired more people to take part in the protests.
The exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has been a key figure behind the momentum of this round of protests. He called on Iranians to seize control of towns and cities by overwhelming them, saying that his goal was no longer just to take to the streets but to "prepare to seize and hold city centers". The 86-year-old prince declared that he was "preparing to return to my homeland", suggesting that his day of return is "very near".
However, it's unclear how much support Pahlavi has inside the country. His father, Iran's Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was widely despised inside Iran when he fled into exile himself amid street protests in 1979.
The situation on the ground remains dire, with many protesters facing violent crackdowns and limited access to information due to internet shutdowns. The exact death toll is unclear, but reports put it at over 200 people. The protests have been recorded in at least 180 cities, with many more believed to be unreported.
right now its like total chaos & bloodshed i feel so bad for all the ppl gettin hurt n arrested the gov is tryna shut down the internet n cut off phone lines but its not workin lol theyre just makin it worse protesters are still out there fightin 4 their rights n demanding change
"stained hands" lol who comes up w/ that? but at the same time, i get why he's warnin iran bout an americn strike... u dont wanna mess w/ those ppl either
The situation in Iran is looking super grim right now...
. I mean, 200+ dead and thousands arrested? That's just crazy. Trump's warnings are one thing, but it's not like he's gonna start a war or anything (right?). But seriously, how much of this is actually being taken by the government? Is Pahlavi for real with his plan to take back Iran? I don't know if he has legit support inside the country... his dad wasn't exactly loved by the people 
the fact that at least 65 ppl are dead is just wow that's like, a whole school full of people 
and the internet shutdown is so unfair 
i hope they find a way to resolve this peacefully 
the world needs to keep an eye on this situation & make sure no one gets away with war crimes 
. I mean, shutting down the internet and cutting off phone lines? That's like a modern-day gulag! 
. If he really is going to back peaceful protesters, why hasn't he done anything yet? It seems like every move the Iranians make, the US just reacts with more sanctions or threats... 
. Can't we all just work together to find peaceful solutions? This kind of rhetoric is just going to escalate the situation and make things worse 
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. Meanwhile, this exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi is getting some serious attention behind these protests 
. He's like the ultimate wildcard - will his message resonate with Iranians or just add fuel to the fire? 
. Is this what we call "regime change" now? 
Can't help but wonder if all this will lead to more chaos or something better 
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and whats with ayatollah khamenei's comments tho? "stained hands"? that's so condescending & dismissive of the iranian people's concerns 
and on a more positive note, i love that exiled crown prince reza pahlavi is trying to mobilize ppl and create change - it takes courage to speak out like that 
. And now they're shutting down the internet? Like, what even is the point of that?! It's like they're trying to suffocate the country or something 
. Trump saying stuff about "stained hands" tho... like, is he even in on this?! 
anyway, my point is that we need to be careful and not take sides too quickly because there are so many variables at play here. it's like, what if Trump does decide to strike Iran? would that really solve anything? 
. Meanwhile, this exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi is like the ultimate troll 
, talking about taking back his homeland and seizing city centers... sounds like a bad Netflix show 
The numbers are crazy, 65 dead and 2300 arrested 
It's like the government is just trying to squash everyone's voice 
But people won't be silenced, they're still out there demanding change 
Can we just talk about love and kindness instead of war and violence? 
Let's draw a big heart around the world 
. I hope these protests bring about some real change, but at what cost? 
. I'm all for supporting peaceful protests, but this whole situation feels like it's spiraling outta control... And what's with Iran shutting down their internet? Like, how do you even communicate with people when that happens? 
... but Maziar Bahari says its inspiring more ppl 2 join in... meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi's trying 2 rally support with his dad's old tactics... will that even work tho? 
. And what's up with Trump thinking he's some kinda hero just because he's talking tough on TV? Like, has he ever actually had to deal with the consequences of his words?