Tehran/Washington, January 11 (ANI): Anti-government protests in Iran continued for the fourteenth consecutive day on Saturday, spreading across multiple cities and intensifying pressure on the Islamic Republic amid a sweeping internet blackout, mass arrests, and violent crackdowns by security forces.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), protest activity has continued across Iran despite the regime’s nationwide internet shutdown. The Critical Threats Project–ISW (CTP-ISW) recorded at least 60 protests across 15 provinces since 0000 local time on January 10, including 25 medium-sized demonstrations and eight large-scale protests. The think tank noted that the Iranian regime has shifted from labeling protesters as “rioters” to calling them “terrorists,” signaling an uncompromising stance and likely justification for further repression. It said the regime has killed hundreds of protesters and injured hundreds more in its violent crackdown.
Protests, which began in late December following a collapse in Iran’s national currency, the rial, have evolved from demonstrations over rising living costs into a nationwide movement calling for the end of the Islamic Republic, which has ruled Iran since the 1979 revolution. Demonstrations erupted again on Saturday in northern Tehran, where crowds set off fireworks, banged pots, and chanted slogans in support of Iran’s ousted monarchy. Videos circulating online, though not independently verified, also suggested rallies in Rasht, Tabriz, Shiraz, and Kerman.
CNN reported that several Iranians who participated in the protests described enormous crowds and brutal violence on the streets of Tehran. One woman told the network that she saw “bodies piled up on each other” in a hospital. Human rights groups urged restraint amid reports of deaths and mass arrests, with Iran Human Rights stating that at least 51 protesters, including nine children, were killed by security forces and hundreds more were injured. Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that at least 200 alleged “riot leaders” were arrested.
Amnesty International criticised the “blanket internet shutdown” imposed by Iranian authorities, saying it was aimed at hiding “the true extent of the grave human rights violations and crimes under international law they are carrying out to crush” the protests. On Saturday, Iran’s attorney general Mohammad Movahedi Azad warned that anyone joining the protests would be considered an “enemy of God,” a charge that carries the death penalty, according to state television.
Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also warned that safeguarding the achievements of the 1979 revolution and the country’s security was a “red line.” In a statement carried by semi-official news sites, the Iranian army said it would defend the country’s “national interests,” alleging that Israel and “hostile terrorist groups” were attempting to undermine public security. “The Army, under the command of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, together with other armed forces, will resolutely protect and safeguard national interests, the country’s strategic infrastructure, and public property,” it said.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described demonstrators as “vandals” and accused the United States and Israel of fomenting unrest. In a speech broadcast on Press TV, Khamenei said US President Donald Trump’s hands were “stained with the blood of more than a thousand Iranians,” an apparent reference to Israel’s June attacks on Iran, which the US supported and joined with strikes of its own. He predicted that the “arrogant” US leader would be “overthrown” like the imperial dynasty that ruled Iran until the 1979 revolution. “Everyone knows the Islamic Republic came to power with the blood of hundreds of thousands of honourable people; it will not back down in the face of saboteurs,” he said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US and Israel of “directly intervening” to transform peaceful protests into violent ones, claims a US State Department spokesperson dismissed as “delusional.” Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, wrote to the UN accusing Washington of bearing direct responsibility for “riots and violent acts” in Iran. He condemned what he described as America’s “illegal behaviour” and coordination with Israel through “threats, incitement, and deliberate encouragement of violence” to undermine Iran’s stability and security.
Despite the crackdown, activists say the protests have only intensified. Journalist and activist Masih Alinejad said hundreds had been killed and appealed for global support. “Removing these terrorists who ordered the massacre of unarmed people is not a tragedy. It is justice. My brothers and sisters were shot in the chest, in the heart, for demanding freedom. Sources inside Iran say hundreds have been killed. This is a war against unarmed people and they need the world’s support,” she posted on X. In another post, she declared, “This is not a protest. It is a revolution. Yes, Iran is looking at FREEDOM. January 2026 Iran.”
Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi also urged protesters to remain on the streets. In a video message posted on X, the 65-year-old son of Iran’s last Shah praised demonstrators for weakening Khamenei’s repressive apparatus and claimed reports indicated shortages of security forces willing to suppress protests. “Do not abandon the streets,” he said, calling for coordinated demonstrations and urging people to remain together for safety. “We will take back Iran,” he added, expressing confidence that he would soon return to the country.
Meanwhile, international reaction has intensified. US President Donald Trump reiterated his support for Iranian protesters, posting on Truth Social that Iran is witnessing “a renewed push for freedom” and that Washington “stands ready to help.” He warned Iranian authorities against killing demonstrators, saying that while the US would not deploy “boots on the ground,” it could strike “very, very hard—where it hurts.”
According to a New York Times report, Trump has been briefed in recent days on a range of military options targeting Iran. These reportedly include targeted strikes on select sites in Tehran, including non-military infrastructure linked to the regime’s internal security apparatus, as part of contingency planning as the administration evaluates diplomatic, economic, and military tools to deter further violence.
US Senator Lindsey Graham further fuelled speculation about possible American action, posting messages backing the protesters and calling for the downfall of the ayatollah’s regime. “Your long nightmare is soon coming to a close,” he wrote, adding, “Help is on the way.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also voiced strong support for Iranian demonstrators, condemning Tehran’s response. “Tehran’s streets, and cities around the world, echo with the footsteps of Iranian women and men demanding freedom,” she wrote on X. “We unequivocally condemn the violent repression of these legitimate demonstrations.”
Analysts say even if the Iranian authorities succeed in suppressing the movement, the underlying causes of unrest will persist. Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, said the government is “only buying time until the next round of confrontation between the state and society,” while a Georgetown University Qatar professor noted that inflation, officially at 42 per cent and unofficially closer to 60 per cent, has rendered government subsidies ineffective.
As protests rage on, observers say Iran is facing its most serious challenge since the 2022–2023 demonstrations sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, with mounting uncertainty over how far both the regime and international actors are willing to go. (ANI)
1,179 words, 6 minutes read time.
About The Author
