Iran Protests 2026: Nationwide Internet Blackout as Anti-Government Demonstrations Intensify After Reza Pahlavi’s Call
Dubai, January 9, 2026 – Iran plunged into a nationwide internet and telephone blackout on Thursday evening as mass anti-government protests escalated across the country, following a direct call for demonstrations by exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.
The protests, now in their second week, have spread to all 31 provinces, with thousands taking to the streets in Tehran and other major cities. Eyewitnesses reported neighborhoods erupting in anti-regime chants at precisely 8 p.m. local time, as urged by Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah deposed in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Protesters shouted slogans such as “Down with the dictator,” “End the Islamic Republic,” and “This is the final battle! Pahlavi will return!” Shops and markets closed in solidarity, paralyzing commercial activity in a general strike.
The Iranian government responded by severing internet access and phone lines, according to monitoring groups NetBlocks and Cloudflare, who attributed the shutdown directly to state intervention. This move has severely limited real-time reporting and communication, echoing tactics used in past unrest.
Human rights organizations report at least 41 deaths — including civilians and security forces — and over 2,270 arrests since the protests began on December 28, 2025. The unrest was initially triggered by the collapse of the Iranian rial to a record low of around 1.4 million to the US dollar, fueling skyrocketing inflation and economic hardship exacerbated by tightened sanctions and the aftermath of the 12-day war with Israel in June 2025.
Pahlavi, in a statement, praised the demonstrators: “Great nation of Iran, the world’s eyes are on you. Take to the streets and present your demands as a united front.” He warned the regime that repression “would not go unanswered,” referencing close scrutiny from US President Donald Trump.
Trump has threatened US intervention if authorities “violently kill peaceful protesters,” drawing sharp condemnation from Iran’s Foreign Ministry as hypocritical interference.
Analysts describe the protests as largely leaderless but gaining momentum, with Pahlavi’s call marking a potential turning point. Some chants support a return to monarchical rule, though it remains unclear if this reflects direct backing for Pahlavi or broader nostalgia for pre-1979 Iran.
Violence has flared in several provinces, with reports of security forces injured or killed in clashes. Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, imprisoned since December, has seen her son highlight parallels to past uprisings in 2009 and 2019, all demanding an end to the Islamic Republic’s rule.
As pressure mounts on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the regime faces its most serious challenge since the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests. With internet restored intermittently in some areas, the situation remains fluid and highly tense.
