TEHRAN (January 9, 2026) – Massive anti-government protests swept Iranian cities from January 7-9, fueled by a collapsing rial and soaring prices, as demonstrators openly defied the regime by burning Khomeini banners and chanting against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
On January 8, crowds in Tehran, Karaj, Mashhad, and Kermanshah heeded exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi's call for synchronized evening chants at 8 p.m., turning streets into clashes with tear gas and pellet guns amid reports of huge gatherings. Authorities imposed a near-total nationwide internet and phone blackout starting around 8:30 p.m. on January 8, dropping connectivity to 5% per NetBlocks and Cloudflare data, in a bid to stifle coordination and footage of fires at police sites and mosques.
Rights groups reported at least 42 deaths and over 2,260 arrests by January 9, with protesters tearing flags and shouting "Death to the dictator." President Masoud Pezeshkian urged calm, but hardliners vowed crackdowns. The unrest, now in its twelfth day, marks a sharp political turn from economic origins, challenging clerical rule as videos briefly showed widespread defiance before the digital curtain fell.
