Iran descends into internet blackout as mass anti-government protests engulf Tehran and Mashhad

Large-scale anti-government protests swept through Iran’s capital Tehran and several major cities on January 8 evening, marking what observers describe as the most powerful show of defiance against the country’s clerical leadership in years.

Verified videos reviewed by BBC Persian showed thousands of demonstrators marching peacefully through central Tehran and Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, as crowds openly called for the overthrow of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The demonstrations, which were not immediately dispersed by security forces, were followed by reports of a nationwide internet blackout later in the night.

Calls for regime change grow louder

Protesters were heard chanting slogans such as “Death to the dictator,” in reference to Khamenei, and “Long live the shah,” a call for the return of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch. Pahlavi, who lives in the United States, had earlier urged Iranians to “take to the streets and, as a united front, shout your demands.”

Footage from Mashhad showed large crowds moving along major roads, with some protesters climbing an overpass and dismantling what appeared to be surveillance cameras. In Tehran, videos captured marchers occupying key thoroughfares in the eastern parts of the city, while smaller gatherings were reported in northern districts of the capital and in Babol, a city in northern Iran.

Economic anger fuels nationwide unrest

The protests have now entered their 12th consecutive day, with human rights groups saying the unrest was sparked by public fury over the dramatic collapse of Iran’s currency and the worsening cost-of-living crisis. Demonstrations have spread to more than 100 cities and towns across all 31 provinces, underscoring the breadth of the anger confronting the Islamic Republic.

Years of economic strain, intensified by crippling US sanctions and rising regional tensions, have increasingly challenged the nearly five-decade rule of Iran’s clerical establishment.

Rising death toll, mass arrests reported

The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) said at least 34 protesters and eight members of the security forces have been killed so far, with 2,270 protesters arrested. Norway-based Iran Human Rights put the death toll higher, reporting at least 45 protesters killed by security forces, including eight children.

BBC Persian has independently verified the identities and deaths of 22 people. Iranian authorities, meanwhile, have acknowledged the deaths of six security personnel.

State media in Iran downplayed the scale of recent demonstrations, with some outlets denying protests had taken place and broadcasting footage of empty streets instead, even as verified videos showed large crowds mobilising across the country.