Exiled opposition leader Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s deposed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, praised the ongoing protests in Iran on Friday and called for larger demonstrations over the weekend. In a social media video message, he urged Iranians to move beyond street rallies and organize to seize and hold city centers. Pahlavi said he was preparing to return to Iran, believing that change was now very close.

Human rights activists warned that the Iranian government might shut down the internet to conceal its crackdown. According to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights organization, at least 51 people have been killed so far. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi cautioned that security forces could prepare for mass killings under communication blackouts.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced the protesters as vandals and insisted the Islamic Republic would not retreat, blaming the United States for the unrest. U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned possible new military actions against Iran, further heightening tensions.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced a hardline stance against the ongoing nationwide protests, declaring the protection of national security and the 1979 Islamic Revolution’s achievements as a “red line” that cannot be crossed. In a statement broadcast on state television on Saturday, the IRGC accused “terrorists and rioters” of attacking military and law enforcement bases, setting fire to public and government property, and killing several security personnel and civilians. The Iranian army, operating separately under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also vowed to use maximum force to defend national interests and infrastructure.

The protests, spreading for two weeks across Iranian cities, began over inflation and economic hardship but quickly turned political, with demonstrators calling for an end to religious rule. State media reported arson at a municipal building in Karaj and funerals for slain security members in Shiraz, Qom, and Hamedan. Human rights group HRANA said at least 65 people, including 50 protesters and 15 security forces, have been killed, while over 2,500 have been arrested.

US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iranian leaders, expressing support for the “brave people of Iran.” Leaders of France, Britain, and Germany jointly condemned the killings and urged Iranian authorities to refrain from violence.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for anti-government protesters in Iran on Saturday through a post on the microblogging platform X, stating that the United States stands with the Iranian people. His statement followed a warning from President Donald Trump on Friday directed at Iran’s leaders, cautioning them against initiating violence.

The ongoing anti-government demonstrations in Iran have intensified tensions across the country. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) indicated that it may take strict measures if necessary to restore order, asserting that the current instability would not be allowed to persist. Earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had said that the government would not hesitate to act against those involved in destructive activities, a remark that sparked renewed debate over the role of security forces.

The combination of US statements and Iran’s internal warnings underscores a deepening standoff, with both domestic and international attention focused on how Tehran will respond to the protests.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the United States and Israel of instigating violence in ongoing protests across Iran. Speaking at a press conference in Beirut after meeting Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Araghchi claimed that both countries had openly admitted to interfering in the demonstrations. He said their involvement turned what began as peaceful protests into violent confrontations. Araghchi also dismissed the possibility of a US-Israeli military intervention in Iran, saying previous attempts had failed and any repetition would meet the same fate.

The protests began on December 28 over rising living costs and quickly spread to nearly all cities and towns across Iran’s 31 provinces. The government has deployed security forces nationwide to suppress the unrest. On Friday, authorities cut off internet and mobile connections in most parts of the country to control the situation.

Araghchi referenced a 12-day war from the previous June while warning against foreign interference, emphasizing that Iran would respond firmly to any external aggression.

Anti-government protests have intensified across Iran, with demonstrators in Tehran engaging in widespread vandalism and arson, including setting fire to a mosque. Protesters were seen carrying the flag used before the 1979 revolution. According to Russian news agency TASS, Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani reported that a hospital and two medical centers were damaged, 26 banks were looted, and security posts, including the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps militia Basij, were attacked. He said repair work is underway to address the damage in the capital.

Zakani stated that protesters also damaged 10 government buildings, 48 fire trucks, 42 buses and ambulances, and 24 apartment buildings. The unrest began on December 28 when traders in central Tehran protested the sharp fall of the Iranian rial, later spreading nationwide. State television urged citizens not to join the protests and warned parents to keep their children away, citing possible gunfire.

A Tehran-based doctor told Time magazine that at least 217 bodies, mostly gunshot victims, had been brought to six hospitals in the capital.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Iran is in 'great danger' and suggested he may order military action. His remarks came after Iran shut down internet access across the country to contain growing anti-government protests and unrest. Trump said on Friday that Iranians were taking control of cities that no one thought possible weeks earlier, and cautioned Tehran against using lethal force, warning that the U.S. would respond if the Iranian government opened fire on protesters.

Trump also expressed hope that Iranian demonstrators would remain safe, describing the situation as extremely dangerous. His comments followed earlier warnings that the United States could support the protesters if violence escalated. The statement reflects Washington’s growing concern over Tehran’s handling of the internal crisis.

In response, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for unity in the face of what he described as 'terrorist acts' and accused foreign enemies, particularly the United States, of fueling the unrest. He warned that chaos would not be tolerated, framing the protests as part of a foreign conspiracy.

Iran has been gripped by widespread anti-government protests that began on December 28 over rising living costs and inflation but have since escalated into broader unrest. Security forces reportedly opened fire in several areas to suppress the demonstrations. A Tehran-based doctor told the U.S. magazine Time that at least 217 protesters had died in six hospitals in the capital, most from gunshot wounds.

The Iranian government has not commented on the reported death toll. Internet and telecommunications were almost completely shut down across the country on Thursday night. The same doctor claimed that authorities removed bodies from hospitals on Friday, saying most of the victims were young. The Iranian human rights group HRANA reported that at least 62 people had been killed since the protests began, including 14 security personnel and 48 protesters.

According to Turkey’s Anadolu news agency, eight members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed during clashes in the western city of Kermanshah on Thursday.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that U.S. President Donald Trump would ultimately be ousted from power. Speaking on state television on Friday, Khamenei accused foreign-backed forces of trying to destabilize Iran and compared Trump to past dictators who fell from power. He said Iran would not retreat in the face of unrest and urged the nation’s youth to remain united and prepared to confront enemies.

The warning came as protests over rising living costs intensified across Iran, with reports of government buildings being set on fire. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that Iranian authorities shut down nationwide internet access late Thursday, keeping the country offline for about 12 hours to suppress demonstrations. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said at least 34 protesters and four security personnel had been killed, and around 2,200 people arrested during the unrest.

The developments highlight escalating tensions between Iran’s leadership and protesters, as well as renewed friction with the United States over accusations of foreign interference.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that those acting as mercenaries for foreign powers and causing harm to people and property will not be tolerated. In a speech broadcast on state television, he accused foreign forces of trying to destabilize Iran and alleged that some rioters were seeking to please U.S. President Donald Trump. Khamenei said Trump would eventually fall, comparing him to past arrogant rulers, and asserted that Iran would not retreat in the face of unrest.

He further claimed that the U.S. president’s hands were stained with the blood of thousands of Iranians and urged his supporters to remain united and prepared, emphasizing that a united nation can defeat any enemy. His remarks came as anti-government protests, which began on December 28, spread across Iran.

The demonstrations started when merchants at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar closed their shops to protest rising living costs, later drawing participation from various social groups across the country.

Mobile phone services across Iran have been severely disrupted following the country’s recent internet shutdown. According to Turkey-based TRT World, many regions have been without mobile network access since Friday, January 9. International media reports indicate that the mobile service disruptions began soon after the internet was cut off, though the Iranian government has not issued any official statement on the matter.

The disruptions come amid widespread anti-government protests that began on December 28 over rising living costs. The demonstrations started when traders at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar closed their shops in protest and were later joined by people from various professions. The protests, ongoing for 12 days, intensified on Thursday night as thousands took to the streets in Tehran and other cities.

Human rights organizations report that at least 38 people have been killed during the unrest. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that if the Iranian government continues killing protesters, the United States may intervene directly with strong military action.

Iran’s Chief Justice Gholam Hossein Mohseni has accused anti-government protesters of acting in the interests of the United States and Israel. His remarks came as demonstrations spread across several Iranian cities, including Tehran, Borujerd, Arsanjan, and Gilan-e-Gharb, following weeks of economic crisis and currency devaluation. Mohseni warned that those creating or supporting unrest would not be forgiven.

According to an Al Jazeera report cited in the article, the Iranian government has decided to provide limited assistance of about seven dollars per family per month to ease the pressure of rising food prices. The protests began last month at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar over inflation and the falling value of the national currency, later spreading nationwide. Human rights groups report at least 36 deaths and around 2,000 arrests so far.

Iran’s military chief Major General Amir Hatami stated that any aggressor would face a strong response, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran would never bow to US threats.

A police officer was killed in Iran near Tehran during ongoing protests, according to a report by Fars News on Thursday. The incident occurred in Malard County, west of the capital, as the officer, identified as Shahin Dehghan, was attempting to control the demonstrations. The report stated that efforts are underway to identify those responsible. The killing took place on the twelfth day of nationwide protests.

The protests began on December 28 when Tehran’s merchants demonstrated against the sharp decline of the Iranian currency and rising prices. The movement quickly spread to other cities across the country. According to AFP, demonstrations have now reached 25 of Iran’s 31 provinces, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people, including several members of the security forces.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the officer’s death as unrest persists in multiple regions of Iran.

Protests over economic hardship and rising prices have spread across Iran, beginning on December 28 in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and expanding to 22 of the country’s 31 provinces. The demonstrations, initially led by business owners, have turned violent and evolved into a broader political crisis. In response, the Iranian government has intensified its crackdown on protesters.

Amid the unrest, US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham warned that former President Donald Trump would kill Iran’s supreme leader if the government continues its repression. Speaking to Fox News, Graham said the Iranian regime was killing its own people under the pretext of improving living conditions and described the situation as a major turning point in Middle Eastern history. He added that help was coming for the Iranian people.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei acknowledged that protesters’ demands were legitimate but declared that riots would not be tolerated. Government talks with business representatives in Tehran have failed to yield results, while Iranian officials strongly condemned Trump’s earlier remarks about US intervention if deadly force was used against demonstrators.

Iran has warned that it may launch preemptive attacks if there are clear signs of enemy aggression. The warning came from Iran’s newly formed Defense Council in a statement broadcast by state media. The council said that crossing Iran’s ‘red lines’ of security, independence, and territorial integrity would not be tolerated. It added that any hostile acts against Iran would be met with a firm response, for which the instigators would bear full responsibility.

The statement further declared that any violation of national interests, interference in internal affairs, or attempts to destabilize Iran would be answered decisively. The council emphasized that Iran would no longer limit itself to retaliating after being attacked but would take proactive measures to safeguard its security. Although the statement did not name any specific country, it comes amid heightened tensions involving the United States and Israel.

The Defense Council was established last June following a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel under the directive of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Protests in Iran over rising living costs entered their 11th day on Wednesday, spreading across much of the country. Demonstrations were reported in multiple provinces, including violent clashes in Lordegan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, where armed protesters opened fire, killing two security officers and injuring at least 30 others. President Masoud Pezeshkian called for patience and instructed security forces not to suppress peaceful demonstrators.

According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, around 300 shopkeepers in Lordegan closed their stores and gathered near Khardunpara and Shironi Bridge, chanting slogans before tensions escalated. Protesters reportedly threw stones at security personnel and vandalized government buildings, including the governor’s office. Separate incidents occurred in Bojnord, where a shop was set on fire, and in Tehran’s Shemiran district and Aligudarz, where large crowds chanted anti-government slogans. AFP reported that protests have spread to 25 of Iran’s 31 provinces.

The Norway-based group Iran Human Rights claimed that at least 27 protesters have been killed since the movement began on December 28 with a shopkeepers’ strike in Tehran.