Iran's Protest Surge: Pahlavi's Call Sparks Internet Shutdown

In late December 2025, Tehran’s bazaar merchants began protests over the currency collapse, quickly spreading to all 31 provinces. The movement gained further momentum when ex‑shah son Reza Pahlavi urged demonstrations on January 6‑7, 2026. His Instagram post amassed over 90 million views and 500 000 comments by mid‑January, a record for Persian content. The next day the state cut all internet, telephone, and SMS services, leaving more than 85 million Iranians offline. Police and IRGC forces opened fire, reportedly killing hundreds, perhaps thousands, and arresting about 10 000. The crackdown follows 2019 fuel‑price protests, 2022‑23 Mahsa Amini uprising, and the 1979 revolution—showing the regime’s reliance on digital authoritarianism and violent suppression.