Iran cuts internet, phone lines as protests intensify in Tehran
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Tehran: Internet access and telephone lines were severed in Iran immediately after fresh protests erupted in Tehran on Thursday night. The unrest, driven by worsening economic conditions, escalated following a call for mass demonstrations by the country’s exiled Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi.
Witnesses reported that residents in the capital shouted anti-government slogans from their homes and rallied in the streets, marking a significant escalation in the demonstrations that have spread nationwide. The protests are viewed as the first major test of influence for Crown Prince Pahlavi, whose father fled the country before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Demonstrators chanted slogans such as "Death to the dictator" and "Pahlavi will return," cries that were previously punishable by death but have now become common due to anger over the ailing economy.
According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, violence surrounding the demonstrations has resulted in at least 39 deaths, with over 2,260 people detained. Iranian officials have not officially acknowledged the scale of the protests but have reported casualties among security forces. The judiciary’s Mizan news agency reported a police colonel was fatally stabbed near Tehran, while the Fars news agency stated that gunmen killed two security force members in Lordegan.
The protests come amid a severe economic downturn. Following a 12-day war with Israel in June and tightening sanctions, the Iranian Rial collapsed in December, reaching 1.4 million to USD 1. Markets and bazaars across the country have shut down in solidarity with the protesters.
US President Donald Trump warned last week that America would "come to the rescue" if Tehran violently suppressed peaceful protesters. Iran’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the comments as hypocritical. Meanwhile, Pahlavi stated on Thursday: "I warn the Islamic Republic, its leader and the Revolutionary Guard that the world and President Donald Trump are closely watching you."
Despite the lack of a centralized leadership on the ground, the response to Pahlavi’s call suggests the government faces increasing pressure as the unrest continues into Friday.
(Inputs from AP)