Large crowds of demonstrators were reported in Tehran and several other Iranian cities on Thursday, according to videos circulating online, in what observers describe as one of the most significant public challenges to Iran’s clerical leadership in recent years.
Footage appearing to show peaceful marches in the capital and in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, indicated that security forces did not immediately intervene. Some analysts warned that the scale and persistence of the demonstrations could increase the risk of broader political upheaval. Later in the evening, a digital rights monitoring group reported widespread disruptions to internet access across the country.
In several videos, protesters were heard chanting slogans calling for the removal of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and expressing support for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s former monarch, who has publicly encouraged Iranians to protest. Other footage showed demonstrators dismantling what appeared to be surveillance equipment from an overpass.
The unrest marked the 12th consecutive day of demonstrations, which human rights groups say were triggered by public anger over the sharp decline of the Iranian currency. Protests have reportedly spread to more than 100 cities and towns across all 31 provinces.
Casualty figures vary among monitoring organizations. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that at least 34 protesters, including five children, and eight members of the security forces had been killed, with more than 2,200 protesters arrested. Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) said at least 45 protesters, including eight children, had died as a result of actions by security forces. Iranian authorities have acknowledged the deaths of six security personnel and confirmed at least 22 fatalities overall, without providing further details.
Protest slogans varied by location. In Isfahan, demonstrators were heard chanting “Death to the dictator,” a reference to the supreme leader, while in cities such as Babol and Tabriz, chants emphasized solidarity and support for the former monarchy.
State media played down the scale of the unrest, with some outlets denying that protests had taken place and broadcasting footage of largely empty streets. Meanwhile, internet monitoring group NetBlocks said available data suggested Iran was experiencing a nationwide internet blackout during the demonstrations.
