The protest wave across Iran has entered its 12th day after a call by the exiled crown prince Reza Pahlav prompted tens of thousands of people to take to the streets on Thursday evening, demonstrating in dozens of cities across the country, including large rallies in the capital, Tehran.
According to the French news agency AFP, the death toll from the protests has risen to at least 45 people, most of them demonstrators killed by fire from Iranian security forces. Iranian authorities responded to the calls to demonstrate by shutting down large parts of the internet network across the country, including Tehran. The move was intended to prevent protesters from coordinating demonstrations and from posting videos encouraging others to join them.
12th day of anti-establishment protests in Iran
Video shows a group of protesters in Tehran
Loc: https://t.co/xBwUWEFR5M@GeoConfirmed pic.twitter.com/XXQRaf6OGe
— Ghoncheh Habibiazad | غنچه (@GhonchehAzad) January 8, 2026
In the video released, Pahlavi described the protests as "unprecedented" and called on the public to continue demonstrating. "We have received reports that the regime is deeply frightened and is once again trying to shut down the internet," he said. "Know that our communication will not be cut off, whether through hundreds of thousands of Starlink devices inside Iran or via the television channels Iran International and Manoto. But if the regime makes such a mistake and blocks the internet, it will be another call to keep going out into the streets and to take them over."
Great nation of Iran, the eyes of the world are upon you. Take to the streets and, as a united front, shout your demands. I warn the Islamic Republic, its leader, and the IRGC that the world and @POTUS are closely watching you. Suppression of the people will not go unanswered. https://t.co/keyFFounaX
— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) January 8, 2026
Protests were reported throughout the day in many cities across Iran, including Isfahan, Kerman, Hamedan and Lahijan. The general strike called by Kurdish opposition parties a day earlier took place as planned, with many shops closed in Kurdish areas in western Iran and in dozens of other cities nationwide.
Human rights organizations said security forces continued to use heavy violence against demonstrators. According to HRANA, 34 of the 36 people killed were protesters, while two were members of the security forces. On Wednesday, the Fars news agency reported that a police officer was stabbed to death by protesters in the city of Malard, in Tehran Province.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned suppliers against hoarding goods or raising prices, as the government pushes ahead with economic reforms alongside the protests. "Citizens must not feel any shortage in the supply or distribution of goods," Pezeshkian said, according to state media. The Mehr news agency reported that the president also instructed security forces not to use a heavy hand against protesters, in contrast to what he described as "rioters."
Large demonstrations were reported on Wednesday in the cities of Mashhad, Bandar Abbas and Shiraz, as well as in Ilam Province in western Iran. In Fars Province in the south, protesters toppled a statue of Qassem Soleimani and smashed it with hammers, while another statue of Soleimani was set on fire in the city of Kashan. In Mashhad, demonstrators were filmed tearing down the flag of the Islamic Republic, and in North Khorasan Province a government building in the city of Ashkhaneh was set ablaze.
