Iranians collect whereas blocking a road throughout a protest in Kermanshah, Iran on January 8, 2026.
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U.S. President Donald Trump issued a brand new warning to Iran’s leaders on Friday as movies confirmed anti-government protests raging throughout the nation, and authorities blacked out the web to curb rising unrest.
Rights teams have documented dozens of deaths of protesters in practically two weeks and, with Iranian state TV displaying clashes and fires, the semi-official Tasnim information company reported that a number of cops had been killed in a single day.
Trump, who bombed Iran final summer season and warned Tehran final week the U.S. may come to the protesters’ assist issued one other warning on Friday, saying: “You higher not begin capturing as a result of we’ll begin capturing too.”
“I simply hope the protesters in Iran are going to be protected, as a result of that is a really harmful place proper now,” he added.
Nonetheless Trump mentioned on Thursday he was not inclined to fulfill Reza Pahlavi, the U.S.-based crown prince and son of the late Shah of Iran, an indication that he was ready to see how the disaster performs out earlier than backing an opposition chief.
Iran’s Supreme Chief Ali Khamenei speaks at a gathering with residents of Qom on the anniversary of the rebellion in opposition to the ousted Shah regime that started on this metropolis in January 1977, addressed the occasions that escalated final evening as a result of financial issues within the nation on January 09, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.
Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Photos
In a televised handle, Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to not again down, accusing demonstrators of appearing on behalf of opposition teams overseas and america, and a public prosecutor threatened demise sentences.
Iran’s Ministry of Info and Communications Know-how mentioned the choice to close down the web was made “by the competent safety authorities underneath the prevailing circumstances of the nation.”
Dozens killed in two weeks of protest
The protests pose the most important inside problem in a minimum of three years to Iran’s clerical rulers, who look extra weak than throughout previous bouts of unrest amid a dire financial scenario and after final yr’s battle with Israel and america.
Whereas the preliminary protests centered on the economic system, with the rial dropping half its worth in opposition to the greenback final yr and inflation topping 40% in December, they’ve morphed to incorporate slogans aimed immediately on the authorities.
Iranian rights group HRANA mentioned on Friday it had documented a minimum of 62 deaths, together with 14 safety personnel and 48 protesters, since demonstrations started on December 28.
The leaders of France, Britain and Germany issued a joint assertion on Friday condemning the killing of protesters and urged the Iranian authorities to restrain from violence.
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric mentioned the United Nations was very disturbed by the lack of life.
“Individuals wherever on the earth have a proper to display peacefully, and governments have a duty to guard that proper and to make sure that that proper is revered,” he mentioned.
The web blackout has sharply lowered the quantity of data flowing out of Iran and telephone calls to the nation weren’t getting via. At the very least 17 flights between Dubai and Iran had been cancelled, Dubai Airport’s web site confirmed.
Photos printed by state tv confirmed what it mentioned had been burning buses, automobiles and motorbikes in addition to fires at underground railway stations and banks.
Movies verified by Reuters confirmed a whole bunch of individuals marching in Tehran. In a single, a girl could possibly be heard shouting, “Demise to Khamenei!”
Different chants included slogans in assist of the monarchy, overthrown in 1979.
Iranian rights group Hengaw reported {that a} protest march after Friday prayers in Zahedan, the place the Baluch minority predominates, was met with gunfire that wounded a number of folks.
A video posted on social media purported to point out demonstrators within the southern metropolis of Shiraz chanting, “That is the yr of blood, Seyed Ali (Khamenei) will probably be overthrown.”
Different movies on social media purported to point out protests late on Friday within the northeastern metropolis of Mashhad and in a number of elements of Tehran. Reuters couldn’t instantly confirm these movies.
Authorities have tried a twin method – describing protests over the economic system as official whereas condemning what they name violent rioters and cracking down with safety forces.
Lots of of Iranian-Australians participate in a protest in opposition to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Protesters name for regime change for social justice, freedom, and democracy in Iran.
Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Photos
Final week, President Masoud Pezeshkian urged authorities to take a “variety and accountable method”, and the federal government supplied modest monetary incentives to assist counter worsening impoverishment as inflation has soared.
However with unrest spreading and clashes showing extra violent, the Supreme Chief, the final word authority in Iran, above the elected president and parliament, used a lot harder language on Friday.
“The Islamic Republic got here to energy via the blood of a whole bunch of hundreds of honourable folks. It is not going to again down within the face of vandals,” he mentioned, accusing these concerned in unrest of in search of to please Trump.
Iran’s United Nations ambassador accused Washington of “destabilizing practices” blamed it for “the transformation of peaceable protests into violent, subversive acts.”
Tehran’s public prosecutor mentioned these committing sabotage or participating in clashes with safety forces would face the demise penalty.
Fragmented opposition
Iran’s fragmented exterior opposition factions known as for extra protests and Pahlavi instructed Iranians on social media: “The eyes of the world are upon you. Take to the streets.”
“The sense of hopelessness in Iranian society is one thing in the present day that we’ve not seen earlier than. I imply, that sense of anger has simply deepened over time and we’re at document new ranges when it comes to how Iranian society is upset,” mentioned Alex Vatanka of Washington’s Center East Institute.
Nonetheless, the extent of assist inside Iran for the monarchy or for the MKO, probably the most vocal of émigré opposition teams, is disputed.
Iranian International Minister Abbas Araqchi mentioned on Friday the prospect of overseas army intervention was “very low.” He mentioned the overseas minister of Oman, which has typically interceded in negotiations between Iran and the West, would go to on Saturday.
Iran has weathered repeated previous bouts of main unrest, together with pupil protests in 1999, over a disputed election in 2009, in opposition to financial hardships in 2019, and the 2022 Lady, Life, Freedom protests.
The 2022 protests, sparked by the killing of a younger girl within the custody of the Islamic morality police drew women and men, young and old, wealthy and poor onto the streets. They had been in the end suppressed, with a whole bunch reported killed and hundreds imprisoned, however authorities additionally ceded some floor with ladies now routinely disobeying public gown codes.
