Iran is witnessing sweeping anti-government protests that, according to verified videos and human rights organizations, represent the largest challenge to the clerical establishment in years. Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets in Tehran, Mashhad, and dozens of other cities, calling for the removal of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and far-reaching political change.
Peaceful demonstrations in the capital and in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, took place on Thursday evening and were not immediately dispersed by security forces, footage verified by BBC Persian shows. The videos depict massive crowds chanting slogans against the ruling clerical system and in support of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah.
Later that evening, monitoring organizations reported a nationwide internet blackout. Internet watchdog NetBlocks said Iran was experiencing a near-total loss of connectivity, warning that escalating digital censorship was restricting the public’s ability to communicate at a critical moment.
The unrest has now entered its twelfth consecutive day. It was initially sparked by public anger over the sharp collapse of Iran’s currency, the rial, and rapidly rising inflation. Protests have spread to more than 100 cities and towns across all 31 of Iran’s provinces. According to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA), at least 34 protesters, including five children, and eight members of the security forces have been killed, while more than 2,270 protesters have been arrested.
Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) reports an even higher death toll, stating that at least 45 protesters, including eight children, have been killed by security forces. BBC Persian has independently confirmed the deaths and identities of 22 individuals. Iranian authorities, meanwhile, have acknowledged the deaths of six security personnel.
In Mashhad, videos show large crowds moving along a major roadway, chanting slogans such as “Long live the shah” and “This is the final battle, Pahlavi will return.” In one clip, several protesters are seen climbing onto an overpass and removing what appear to be surveillance cameras.
Similar scenes unfolded in Tehran, where large groups of demonstrators marched along major roads in the eastern and northern parts of the city. Protesters could be heard chanting “Death to the dictator” and “Don’t be afraid, we are all together,” with some footage capturing clashes with security forces.
Protests were also reported in Isfahan, Babol, Tabriz, and Dezful. In Dezful, videos sent to BBC Persian appear to show security forces opening fire from a central square. In western regions, including Ilam, Kermanshah, and Lorestan provinces, demonstrations were accompanied by widespread shop closures and general strikes, particularly in areas with large Kurdish and Lor populations.
According to the Kurdish human rights group Hengaw, at least 17 protesters have been killed by security forces in Ilam, Kermanshah, and Lorestan, many of them members of ethnic minority communities. Other videos show damaged banks, scattered documents, and crowds chanting slogans calling for the removal of clerics.
The escalation followed a public call by Reza Pahlavi, who lives in Washington, DC, urging Iranians to take to the streets and present a united front. In a post on X, he said that “millions of Iranians demanded their freedom,” praising protesters as courageous compatriots and thanking US President Donald Trump for holding the Iranian authorities to account.
President Trump reiterated that the United States could respond forcefully if Iranian authorities continued killing protesters. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described Iran’s economy as “on the ropes,” emphasizing that Washington does not want further harm inflicted on demonstrators during what he called a highly tense moment.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged security forces to exercise the utmost restraint when dealing with peaceful protests, stating that violence and coercion should be avoided. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, however, said authorities should engage with protesters while insisting that “rioters must be put in their place.”
The current wave of unrest is the most extensive since the 2022 protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. Those demonstrations resulted in more than 550 deaths and around 20,000 arrests, according to human rights groups. Historically, the largest protests since the 1979 Islamic Revolution occurred in 2009, when millions took to the streets following a disputed presidential election.
Protesters cite soaring inflation, which has reached around 40%, international sanctions, economic mismanagement, and widespread corruption as key drivers of their anger. Many Iranians say despair, lost opportunities, and a desire to reclaim their future have pushed them into the streets, making the current unrest one of the most significant moments of public dissent in modern Iranian history.