Anti-government protests in Iran have escalated into a nationwide movement, with demonstrators defying a brutal crackdown and an ongoing internet blackout imposed by authorities to suppress dissent.
The protests began in late December 2025, sparked by crippling economic conditions, including rampant inflation and sudden price hikes for basic goods, which led shopkeepers in Tehran’s bazaars to close their doors and take to the streets. Over the past two weeks, the demonstrations have spread to more than 180 cities across all of Iran’s provinces, evolving from economic grievances into a broader challenge against the Islamic Republic regime, with participants chanting anti-government slogans and calling for political change.
Iranian security forces have responded with violence, resulting in at least 78 protesters killed and over 2,600 arrested, according to human rights groups; hospitals are described as chaotic, with reports of bodies piling up and patients fearing identification amid the crackdown. In an attempt to quell the unrest, authorities imposed a nationwide internet blackout, cutting off access to communication platforms and international sites, but this measure has backfired, galvanizing more people to join the protests out of frustration and boredom, as reported by residents in Tehran.
The internet shutdown has severely limited Iranians’ ability to communicate and access information, with only domestic intranet partially restored and reliance on satellite TV for news; cultural figures like film-makers Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof have condemned the blackout as a tool of repression to conceal violence. International reactions have been swift, with US President Donald Trump expressing solidarity and threatening action if violence escalates, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced support for the Iranian people; Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed the US for inciting the protests and urged national unity.
The protests mark a significant shift as traditionally regime-loyal bazaaris have joined the movement, highlighting deep economic mismanagement and corruption; analysts suggest the government’s reliance on coercion indicates a loss of public trust and a potential crisis for the regime. Looking ahead, exiled opposition figures like Reza Pahlavi have called for strikes, and the ongoing blackout raises concerns about human rights violations; the international community is urged to monitor the situation and support communication access to ensure the protests do not go unheard.
