Update: Iran Protests Escalate
- Rex Ballard
- Jan 10
- 5 min read
Regime Pulls Plug on Nationwide Internet
Tehran, Iran – January 9, 2026 – Anti-government protests in Iran have intensified into their second week, spreading to over 100 cities and evolving from economic grievances into widespread calls for regime change. Sparked by soaring inflation, currency devaluation, and disillusionment with the clerical leadership, demonstrators have clashed with security forces, torching government buildings and chanting against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Reports indicate at least 45 protesters have been killed, with thousands arrested, as the regime enforces a near-total internet blackout to stifle communication and coordination. Human rights groups warn that the shutdown could mask escalating violence, drawing parallels to past crackdowns.
The protests, which began in late December 2025, have seen unprecedented participation from diverse groups, including youth, merchants, and ethnic minorities. In Tehran, crowds reportedly breached gates near Khamenei's compound, while in western provinces like Kermanshah and Ilam, security forces have used live ammunition against demonstrators. State media has downplayed the unrest as "riots" orchestrated by foreign powers, with Khamenei labeling protesters as "vandals" trying to appease U.S. President Donald Trump. U.S. intelligence, initially assessing the demonstrations as lacking the momentum to threaten regime stability, is now reassessing amid reports of intensified clashes and potential security force defections.
Reza Pahlavi's Recent Communications to the Iranian People, Military, and Police
Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, a key opposition figure and son of Iran's last Shah, has emerged as a vocal leader in the protests, issuing multiple calls to action via social media and video messages. Addressing the Iranian people directly, Pahlavi has urged mass participation to overwhelm security forces through sheer numbers, praising the "unprecedented" turnout on January 7 and 8, 2026, and calling for continued street presence despite the blackout. In a video message on January 7, he emphasized readiness for further actions, noting that any internet cut would itself serve as a signal to "take over the streets" and drive "another nail into the coffin of this regime."
Pahlavi has also targeted Iran's military, police, and security forces with appeals for defection, framing them as protectors of the nation rather than the regime. In a direct video address on January 7, he posed a "historic choice" to these forces: stand with the "criminals" or the people. He highlighted a secure platform he launched six months prior for personnel to pledge loyalty to the nation, noting thousands have already registered and urging re-applications if needed. Pahlavi warned that those suppressing protesters would be "identified and punished," while defectors would be "honored and respected." This message underscores reports of regime overstretching and potential internal fractures.
On January 9, Pahlavi appealed urgently to President Trump for intervention amid the blackout, crediting U.S. threats with deterring regime thugs and calling for readiness to support protesters. He has also honored slain protesters by name, vowing accountability for regime leaders. These messages, amplified via satellite TV and smuggled Starlink connections, have bolstered protester morale and drawn international attention.
The Internet Blackout: A Tool for Suppression
Iranian authorities imposed a nationwide internet shutdown on the evening of January 8, reducing connectivity to as low as 1% of normal levels, according to monitoring groups like NetBlocks. This blackout has also disrupted international phone calls and mobile services, effectively isolating the country and limiting the flow of information about the protests. The measure follows calls for mass rallies and strikes, including from exiled figures like Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, and has coincided with plans for further demonstrations despite the crackdown.
This is not the first time Iran has weaponized digital isolation. The regime's "national information network" allows it to throttle or sever external connections while maintaining internal government access, a capability honed over years of unrest. Journalists and activists report being cut off, with fears that the blackout is enabling "massacres" without external witnesses.
Historical Link to Escalating Regime Violence
Iran's use of internet blackouts has a grim historical precedent, often serving as a harbinger of intensified state violence against citizens. In November 2019, during the "Bloody November" protests over fuel price hikes, a similar nationwide shutdown lasted nearly a week, during which time security forces killed at least 304 people—some estimates reach 1,500—in mass shootings and arrests. The blackout concealed the scale of the atrocities, allowing the regime to operate with impunity.
Earlier, in the 2009 Green Movement following disputed elections, heavy censorship and social media blocks preceded crackdowns that left dozens dead and thousands imprisoned. The 2017-2018 economic protests saw app-specific blocks like Telegram, enabling the killing of 25 demonstrators. Most recently, the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" uprising after Mahsa Amini's death involved regional shutdowns amid over 500 deaths.
In each instance, digital restrictions were imposed early—typically within days of protests erupting—and facilitated unchecked repression by obscuring evidence of abuses like live-fire shootings, hospital raids, and torture. Rights organizations, including Amnesty International, describe this as a deliberate tactic to evade global accountability, with the current blackout raising alarms of a repeat scenario.
U.S. Efforts to Restore Internet Access
The United States has ramped up support for Iranian protesters by facilitating alternative internet access, primarily through satellite technology. Elon Musk's SpaceX has activated free Starlink service across Iran until February 3, 2026, allowing citizens with terminals to bypass the blackout. This move follows public appeals from Iranian activists like Masih Alinejad and opposition leaders, who urged Musk to deploy the system amid the shutdown. Reports indicate thousands of Starlink terminals have been smuggled into the country, enabling limited uploads of protest footage despite regime attempts to jam signals using Russian and Chinese equipment.
President Trump has endorsed these efforts, calling for increased satellite internet provision as part of broader support for the demonstrators. The administration is also exploring additional sanctions and diplomatic pressure to counter the regime's digital censorship, framing it as essential to protecting free expression and exposing abuses.
Trump's Threats Amid Rising Tensions
President Donald Trump has issued stark warnings to Iran's leadership, vowing severe retaliation if security forces kill protesters. In recent statements, including a radio interview, Trump reiterated that Tehran would "pay hell" for such actions, suggesting potential U.S. strikes on regime targets. He praised the protesters as "brave people" fighting for freedom and blamed the unrest on the regime's mismanagement, while tying it to his "maximum pressure" sanctions policy.
These threats come as reports confirm dozens of deaths, prompting Khamenei to accuse protesters of serving Trump's agenda. Analysts suggest Trump's rhetoric could deter further violence but risks escalating regional tensions, especially given Iran's alliances with groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis. International observers, including the EU, have condemned the crackdown, urging restraint as the world watches for signs of regime fragility or further bloodshed.
Sources:
Web Sources
Iran shuts off internet as protests blaze across country | Reuters - https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-cut-off-world-supreme-leader-warns-protesters-2026-01-09/
Live updates: Iran protests spread as authorities cut communications - https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/iran-protests-01-09-26
2026 Internet blackout in Iran - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Internet_blackout_in_Iran
Iran plunged into internet blackout as protests over economy spread ... - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/08/iran-plunged-into-internet-blackout-as-protests-over-economy-spread-nationwide
Propaganda vs. Reality During Iran's Internet Blackout - https://iranwire.com/en/news/147453-propaganda-vs-reality-during-irans-internet-blackout/
Internet access cut out in Iran after protests | AP News - https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-us-israel-war-nuclear-economy-ebddd998fbe7903e70ca62127250ebcb
Internet service in Iran cut off or restricted as deadly protests reach a ... - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-cutting-internet-amid-deadly-protests/
Iran: Internet blackouts hinder reporting amid nationwide protests - IFJ - https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/press-releases/article/iran-internet-blackouts-hinder-reporting-amid-nationwide-protests
Iran Is Cut Off From Internet as Protests Calling for Regime Change ... - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/world/middleeast/iran-protests-internet-shutdown.html
X (Twitter) Sources
coco us (@fab5875) on Iran's nationwide internet blackout and protests - https://x.com/fab5875/status/2009703406815027535
Soheil (@Soheilx) on protests starting in Tehran amid blackout - https://x.com/Soheilx/status/2009700305139863711
Madjid (@Madjidmohamadi) on internet blackout and protests in 31 provinces - https://x.com/Madjidmohamadi/status/2009698781802164280
sina sad (@goodoldsi) on internet blackout to massacre people (reply to Reuters) - https://x.com/goodoldsi/status/2009689360640434522
sina sad (@goodoldsi) on blackout and massacre (reply to Tommy Robinson) - https://x.com/goodoldsi/status/2009688785169322473
sina sad (@goodoldsi) on blackout and voice for people (reply to Terror Alarm) - https://x.com/goodoldsi/status/2009688373120893273
