Iran Protests Intensify Amid Internet Blackout; At Least 42 Killed, Thousands Detained as Reza Pahlavi Urges

Iran protests continued into Friday morning as crowds marched and shouted despite a nationwide communications blackout. Activists shared short online clips before links failed, showing bonfires, damaged streets and anti-government chants in Tehran and other cities. Human rights groups reported dozens dead and thousands detained, while analysts linked the fresh unrest to calls by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.

The protests, first sparked by Iran's economic crisis, have now become one of the most serious challenges to the authorities in years. Demonstrators are openly criticising Iran's theocracy and, in some cases, praising the former monarchy. Such public support for the shah once carried the risk of a death sentence, underlining how much anger has risen.

Iran protests widen amid rising death toll and mass arrests

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said at least 42 people have been killed so far. The group also reported more than 2,270 detentions linked to the Iran protests across the country. The true scale of the unrest remains uncertain because internet and many international phone connections have been blocked nationwide.

The scale of casualties and arrests during the Iran protests can be summarised as follows:

Iran protests and the role of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi

Reza Pahlavi, who lives in exile, urged nationwide demonstrations on Thursday night and again at 8 p.m. Friday. The appeal became a key test of whether the Iranian public might rally behind the former crown prince. Pahlavi's father left Iran shortly before the 1979 Islamic Revolution after being diagnosed with a fatal illness.

Analyst Holly Dagres of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said Pahlavi's intervention significantly changed the rhythm of the Iran protests. "What turned the tide of the protests was former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi's calls for Iranians to take to the streets at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday," said Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "Per social media posts, it became clear that Iranians had delivered and were taking the call seriously to protest in order to oust the Islamic Republic."

Iran protests intensify before nationwide internet shutdown

Witnesses reported that when clocks reached 8 p.m. Thursday, many Tehran districts suddenly filled with noise. People leaned from windows and gathered in streets, shouting slogans such as "Death to the dictator!" and "Death to the Islamic Republic!" Some crowds also declared, "This is the last battle! Pahlavi will return!"

Videos posted before connections were severed showed thousands on the streets in several cities. Soon after, all online links and many international calls stopped working, cutting Iran off from much of the outside world. Activists said this timing made it difficult to track events on the ground or verify casualty reports from the Iran protests.

Iran protests, internet blackout and Pahlavi’s appeal to Europe

After communications were cut, Pahlavi released a statement describing the blackout and appealing to foreign leaders. "Iranians demanded their freedom tonight. In response, the regime in Iran has cut all lines of communication," Pahlavi said. "It has shut down the Internet. It has cut landlines. It may even attempt to jam satellite signals."

Pahlavi then urged European governments to match the stance of U.S. President Donald Trump and "hold the regime to account." "I call on them to use all technical, financial, and diplomatic resources available to restore communication to the Iranian people so that their voice and their will can be heard and seen," he added. "Do not let the voices of my courageous compatriots be silenced."

Iran protests and state media response after communications cut

The broad internet shutdown also disrupted Iran's state-run and semi-official news outlets, which briefly went offline. State television did not mention the Iran protests until around 8 a.m. Friday, when presenters blamed "terrorist agents" linked to the U.S. and Israel for setting fires and causing unrest. Broadcasters said there were "casualties," but gave no further details.

State TV reported that private cars, motorbikes, fire engines, buses, metro stations and other public property were burned during the Iran protests. Officials did not specify which cities were affected or how many people had been injured or killed. The lack of detailed information, combined with the blackout, left many questions about the real scale of damage.

Economic crisis background to Iran protests and rial collapse

Iran has experienced repeated waves of nationwide unrest in recent years, with grievances often linked to economic hardship. Following a 12-day war involving Israel and Iran, sanctions tightened further, deepening financial pressure. In December, Iran's currency, the rial, fell sharply to 1.4 million to $1, triggering new demonstrations against rising prices and the ruling system.

The Iran protests that followed quickly moved beyond economic slogans. Many participants turned their anger towards the governing structure itself, with chants targeting Iran's theocracy. Analysts noted that authorities have so far avoided an even harsher crackdown, though the reason for this restraint remains unclear, especially given the growing casualty figures and scale of arrests.

Trump’s warnings linked to Iran protests and security crackdown

Donald Trump said the U.S. had delivered forceful private warnings over any attempt to crush the Iran protests. Trump stated earlier that if Tehran "violently kills peaceful protesters," America "will come to their rescue." In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt aired Thursday, Trump repeated that message in stronger language.

Iran has "been told very strongly, even more strongly than I'm speaking to you right now, that if they do that, they're going to have to pay hell," Trump said. When asked whether Trump would meet Pahlavi, the response was cautious. "I'm not sure that it would be appropriate at this point to do that as president," Trump said. "I think that we should let everybody go out there, and we see who emerges."

Debate over monarchy in Iran protests and Pahlavi’s foreign ties

Pahlavi said future political steps would depend on how Iranians responded to the calls for protest. Demonstrators have chanted in favour of the shah at some rallies, though it remains unclear whether this reflects direct support for Pahlavi or nostalgia for the pre-1979 political order. The Iran protests have therefore revived long-standing debates over Iran's former monarchy.

Pahlavi's past engagement with Israeli officials has attracted criticism, particularly after the 12-day conflict Israel waged on Iran in June. That record continues to divide opinion among Iranians inside and outside the country. As the Iran protests persist, questions remain over whether support for the former royal family will grow or remain symbolic.

Internet blackout, Iran protests and concerns over hidden violence

Dagres argued that the extended communications shutdown helped security forces act with less public scrutiny during the Iran protests. "This is exactly why the internet was shut down: to prevent the world from seeing the protests. Unfortunately, it also likely provided cover for security forces to kill protesters." With information flows controlled, foreign observers rely heavily on fragmented reports.

As the blackout continues, many families struggle to reach relatives in affected cities, adding to anxiety. The authorities face pressure from both domestic protesters and foreign governments, while the economic downturn remains unresolved. The Iran protests therefore continue to test the government's response, the influence of exiled figures and the impact of outside warnings.