Massive crowds took to the streets of Tehran and several other cities across Iran on Thursday night in a new wave of unrest. This latest surge, described as the most intense in years, is shaking the foundations of the clerical establishment.
In a notable shift, security forces did not immediately disperse the large-scale demonstrations in Tehran and Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city. However, a nationwide internet blackout followed shortly after.
Viral social media footage showed protesters calling for the overthrow of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and demanding the return of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the late Shah. Pahlavi, currently based in Washington, had previously urged his supporters to take to the streets.
Tehran, tonight. pic.twitter.com/3Bxdnlmwb8
— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 8, 2026
Now in its twelfth consecutive day, the unrest was ignited by the collapse of the Iranian currency. According to human rights organizations, protests have spread to over one hundred towns and cities across each of the country’s provinces.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports that at least 34 protesters—including five children—and eight security personnel have been killed, with 2,270 arrests made. Meanwhile, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) puts the protester death toll at 45. BBC Persian has independently verified the identities of 22 victims.
Trump’s warning to Iran
US President Donald Trump reiterated his threat of military intervention if the crackdown turns lethal. “I’ve let them know that if they start killing people…we’re going to hit them very hard,” he told the Hugh Hewitt Show.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added that the Iranian economy is on the brink of collapse and referred to the current state of things in the country as “a tense moment.”
Related: Trump Dismisses Intel Assessment on Limited Impact of Iran Strikes
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