On Thursday night, residents in Tehran and other areas chanted from their homes and flooded the streets after exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi called for mass demonstrations.
As the protests began, internet access and phone services across Iran were abruptly cut, with Cloudflare and NetBlocks blaming government interference.
Witnesses described thousands of people chanting slogans against the Islamic Republic and its leadership, while some openly praised the former shah, who went into exile in 1979, – an act once punishable by death.
The demonstrations, initially driven by economic grievances, have spread nationwide and led to widespread market closures, detentions, and growing casualties. This surge in unrest is intensifying pressure on Iran’s leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and marking a significant escalation in the protest movement.
The Crown Prince is on record as saying that he is not advocating for the return of the monarchy. At least 45 people have died in the latest wave of unrest.
Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi – Deutsche Welle
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