Iran protests escalate amid reports of killings, mass arrests and internet disruptions
By Staff Writer
Nationwide protests and strikes spread across Iran this week, leaving at least 36 people dead and more than 2,000 arrested, as opposition groups and exiled figures urged demonstrators to sustain pressure on the Islamic Republic’s leadership.
The latest unrest was triggered by a general strike called by Kurdish political parties, prompting shop closures across Kurdish-majority regions and demonstrations in dozens of cities, including Isfahan, Kerman, Lahijan and Hamadan. According to the Critical Threats Project (CTP) and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), 89 protests have been recorded across 21 provinces since 6 January, including 19 in Tehran, with most taking place in western Iran and in smaller, less populated areas. The organisations also documented 14 medium-sized demonstrations, defined as having more than 100 participants.
Iran’s exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, sought to amplify the protests with a video message urging people to demonstrate from their homes and on the streets. The clip attracted tens of millions of views online ahead of the planned action. On Wednesday night, he reiterated his call for sustained nationwide protests, warning that the authorities could attempt to cut internet access to stifle unrest.
“Know that our communication will not be severed,” Pahlavi said, pointing to alternative channels such as satellite internet access and Persian-language television networks broadcasting from abroad. “If the regime commits such a mistake and cuts the internet, that itself will be another call to continue your presence and to take over the streets. In this way, you will drive yet another nail into the coffin of this regime.”
CTP and ISW reported that internet access had already been disrupted in Lordegan, in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, and in the cities of Malekshahi and Abdanan in Ilam province, where security forces clashed with protesters.
Casualties and arrests continued to rise. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said at least 36 people have been killed since the protests began, including 34 demonstrators and two members of the security forces. CTP and ISW confirmed that security forces had fired on protesters at least 15 times across eight provinces since their last data cut-off, with most incidents occurring in Tehran, Fars, Kermanshah and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces.
Iranian authorities also confirmed the deaths of two Law Enforcement Command officers in Lordegan and an additional security force member in Malekshahi, marking the first public acknowledgement of security force casualties since the start of the unrest. More than 2,000 people have been arrested, while an Iranian lawmaker confirmed that children and teenagers were among those detained.
As demonstrations persist across the country, a series of reports and public statements have fuelled speculation that Iran’s leadership may be preparing contingency plans in case the unrest spirals further out of control.
In the UK parliament, Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat said there were indications that Russian cargo aircraft had flown into Tehran and that significant quantities of gold were being transferred out of Iran. He asked ministers whether such developments pointed to preparations for a possible collapse of the current system. “We’re seeing Russian cargo planes arriving in Tehran, apparently carrying military supplies, and hearing reports of substantial volumes of gold leaving the country,” he said, adding that these could be signs of planning for a post-regime future.
Meanwhile, The Times reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has an emergency exit strategy that would see him relocated to Russia, along with a small group of close associates and family members, should the unrest overwhelm the security forces. The newspaper said its account was based on an intelligence assessment shared with its journalists.
According to one source quoted in the report, the plan would include Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, widely viewed as a potential successor, and involves the stockpiling of cash and other assets to facilitate a rapid departure.
The report also cited a psychological profile produced by a Western intelligence service, which suggested that Khamenei’s physical and mental condition had deteriorated since last year’s 12-day conflict with Israel. It added that growing paranoia and internal distrust among Iran’s elite had influenced the development of such contingency measures.
Separately, CTP and ISW said this week’s Kurdish-led strike marked a significant shift, involving coordination between seven Kurdish organisations, including several opposition groups. Tehran has previously accused Kurdish factions of fomenting unrest during earlier waves of protests.
Iranian officials have so far declined to comment on the claims surrounding the cargo flights, the alleged transfer of gold, visa applications for officials’ families or the reported emergency plans for senior leaders.
