Iran: Anti-Khamenei protests intensify amid economic crisis, Internet curbs

The demonstrations come amid growing public anger over a soaring cost of living, a struggling economy, and repeated crackdowns by security forces. Multiple videos circulating on social media show protesters chanting slogans against the regime.

Meanwhile, internet monitoring group NetBlocks said Iran is experiencing a nationwide internet blackout amid the unrest. Confirming the development, NetBlocks wrote on X: “Confirmed: Live metrics show #Iran is now in the midst of a nationwide internet blackout; the incident follows a series of escalating digital censorship measures targeting protests across the country and hinders the public’s right to communicate at a critical moment.”

Al Jazeera journalist Tohid Asadi reported that thousands of people took to the streets of Tehran on Thursday, marking an especially intense day of protests.

“What we saw was many more neighbourhoods in the Iranian capital coming to the streets. Several roads were blocked while I was driving from downtown,” Asadi told the news channel, adding that confrontations broke out between protesters and police.

“We heard chants and slogans against the political establishment,” he said.

Asadi also noted that economic pressures have severely eroded public confidence, particularly among the working and lower middle classes, who are increasingly struggling to meet daily needs.

During the demonstrations, protesters in several viral videos were heard calling for the overthrow of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and demanding the return of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince.

Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, has been campaigning against the Islamic Republic and advocating free elections rather than a return to monarchy, according to Deutsche Welle (DW).

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Thursday’s protests marked the 12th consecutive day of nationwide demonstrations. Protest actions were reported in at least 46 cities across 21 provinces.

HRANA also reported a wave of strikes and market closures, particularly in Kurdish regions. Dozens of cities in Kurdistan, West Azerbaijan, Kermanshah, and Ilam provinces joined the strikes.

On the twelfth day of protests alone, at least 60 additional arrests were recorded, bringing the total number of detainees over the past 12 days to more than 2,277. Among those detained were at least 166 minors and 48 university students, the organisation said.