At least 62 people have been killed during a wave of protests demanding regime change in Iran, according to human rights groups, as the country’s supreme leader threatened a harsh crackdown on demonstrators.
The Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) said that at least 48 protesters and 14 security personnel have been killed since demonstrations began on 28 December.
Protesters have chanted “death to Khamanei” after the son of the toppled former leader Shah Reza Pahlavi, called for citizens to take to the streets. A nationwide blackout remains in place.
Khamenei blamed US president Donald Trump for millions taking to the street to protest the country’s economic crisis, and insisted the Islamic Republic will “not back down” in his first address on Friday.
The protesters were “ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy … because he said he would come to their aid”, Khamenei said in a reference to Trump, who said last week the US was “locked and loaded” to defend the demonstrators from authorities.
Key Points
- Why Iran’s protests are escalating amid nuclear tensions with US
- Iran authorities cut internet as buildings set on fire during mass protests in Tehran
- In pictures: Millions gather in Tehran to demand regime change
- Watch: Crowds take to streets across Iran after call to defy regime
- Ayatollah Khamenei says Islamic Republic will not 'back down' amid protests
- Trump says Khamenei planning to flee Iran as he puts Iran 'on notice'
- Britain, France and Germany condemn killings of protestors
Germany's Merz condemns killing of protestors
01:02 , James ReynoldsGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed concern about the reports of violence by Iranian security forces on Friday.
Writing on X, he strongly condemned the killing of protestors and shared the joint stance of Germany, France and Britain in urging the Iranian authorities to refrain from violence.
Watch: Trump saying US watching pretty incredible Iran protests very closely
00:30 , James ReynoldsRecap: Risk of foreign intervention 'very low' says Iran's foreign minister
23:53 , James ReynoldsIran’s foreign minister said earlier on Friday that the risk of foreign intervention is “very low” as US President Donald Trump warned it would hit Iran “hard” if it attacked protesters amid political unrest across the country.
Trump added that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be fleeing the country with reports that he could escape to Russia, sparking speculation that the US could intervene.
How many people have been killed amid the unrest?
23:01 , James ReynoldsIranian rights group HRANA said on Friday it had documented the deaths of at least 62 people.
That figure included 14 security personnel and 48 protesters, since demonstrations began on December 28.
Iranian media reported that a number of children were among the casualties.
Iran pins violence on US and Israel
22:30 , James ReynoldsIran’s UN ambassador told the security council on Friday that the US was to blame for the “transformation of peaceful protests into violent, subversive acts and widespread vandalism”.
Amir Saeid Iravani wrote in a letter that Iran condemns “the ongoing, unlawful, and irresponsible conduct of the United States of America, in coordination with the Israeli regime, in interfering in Iran’s internal affairs through threats, incitement, and the deliberate encouragement of instability and violence.”
ICYMI: Punishment for rioters will be 'decisive, maximal' and 'without legal leniency', says head of judiciary in Iran
22:04 , James ReynoldsIran’s judiciary promised severe punishment for protesters as demonstrations entered their 14th day.
Judiciary head Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei was quoted by state media in saying that the punishment of rioters would be “decisive, maximal, and without legal leniency”.
Iranian state media cited the Tehran prosecutor in saying those committing sabotage, burning public property or involved in armed clashes with security forces would face the death penalty.
US ready to 'hit Iran where it hurts', says Trump
21:51 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump on Friday threatened to “hit Iran where it hurts” as he doubled down on threats against the regime over its handling of the ongoing protests.
“We’re watching the situation very carefully,” he told reporters at the White House. “I've made the statement very strongly that if they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved.”
Dozens of people have already been killed in clashes over the last two weeks.
“That doesn't mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts,” Trump added, noting: “We don't want that to happen.”
“They've done a bad job,” he said of the regime. “They've treated their people very badly, and now they're being paid back. So let's see what happens. We're watching it. We're watching it very closely.”
Pahlavi not trying to restore the monarchy, says supporter
21:01 , James ReynoldsA supporter of Reza Pahlavi who has worked on his return to Iran insists that the exiled crown prince is not looking to restore the monarchy with his support for the ongoing protests.
Cameron Khansarinia, vice president of the US-based National Union for Democracy in Iran, told the BBC’s Newshour that Pahlavi backs free elections to let the people "decide whether they want to return to constitutional monarchy or they want a republic".
Watch: Protests gain momentum across Iran after two weeks of pressure
20:00 , James ReynoldsBritain, France and Germany condemn killings of protestors
19:44 , James ReynoldsFrench, British and German leaders have condemned the killing of protesters in Iran.
A joint statement urged the authorities to refrain from violence and allow free expression.
“We urge the Iranian authorities to exercise restraint, to refrain from violence, and to uphold the fundamental rights of Iran’s citizens,” they said.
Background: US and Israel weighing fresh strikes on Iran
19:03 , James ReynoldsIran faces renewed pressure to maintain order after US president Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu weighed fresh strikes at the end of December.
The US and Israel carried out airstrikes on Iran’s military and its nuclear installations in June. The US concluded early on that it had likely only set back efforts by a matter of months.
Trump said following the 29 December meeting with Netanyahu that he wanted to “eradicate” Iran’s nuclear programme.
Netanyahu then said on Monday: “We will not allow Iran to restore its ballistic missile industry, and certainly we will not allow it renew the nuclear programme that we significantly damaged.”
He called the recent protests “a decisive moment, in which the Iranian people take their futures into their hands”.
Recap: Trump says Ayatollah looking to flee Iran amid unrest
18:00 , James ReynoldsIf you’re just tuning in, the Iranian regime is under increasing pressure as nationwide protests gain momentum.
At least 40 protesters and several police officers have been killed in clashes, according to rights groups and local media, with 2,200 arrests and counting.
The government switched off the internet to most of the country as opposition groups tried to rally action against the regime.
Maira Butt has the full story:
Trump says Ayatollah will flee Iran as US warns it will ‘hit hard’ if people killed
Recap: Trump yet to endorse Pahlavi
16:52 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump has been slow to endorse exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, despite supporting the protestors against the regime.
In comments to podcaster Hugh Hewitt, Trump indicated he would not be meeting with Pahlavi in the foreseeable future.
“I’ve watched him, and he seems like a nice person, but I’m not sure that it would be appropriate at this point to do that,” he said.
“I think that we should let everybody go out there and we see who emerges,” he added.
Iran's blackout passes 24 hour mark
16:48 , James ReynoldsIt has now been 24 hours since Iran implemented its nationwide internet shutdown, according to tracking agency Netblocks.
Reza Pahlavi calls for Trump's support against Iranian regime
16:32 , James ReynoldsIran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has called for the “support and action” of Donald Trump against the regime, after the US president threatened Iran with “hell” if demonstrators are killed.
“You have proven and I know you are a man of peace and a man of your word,” Pahlavi wrote in a post on social media on Friday afternoon, adding: “Please be prepared to intervene to help the people of Iran.”
Pahlavi said it was Trump’s “threat to this criminal regime” that has “kept the regime’s thugs at bay” so far. He claimed the Ayatollah “wants to use this blackout to murder these young heroes”.
Iran warns US against intervention
15:59 , James ReynoldsIran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said today that the US and Israel were “directly intervening” in the major protests sweeping the nation, without providing evidence.
Araghchi claimed that they “have plans and want to interfere, and they are trying to take these protests and uprisings to the moment of violence”.
He also assessed the chance of foreign military intervention in Iran was "very low".
He said the foreign minister of Oman, which has often interceded in negotiations between Iran and the West, would visit on Saturday.
The comments came Araghchi said yesterday that Iran does “not seek war, but we are fully prepared for it”, offering openness to negotiations with the US.
Donald Trump last week said he would come to the aid of demonstrators if Iran kills protestors.
Is Iran facing another revolution? Expert says regime 'ossified' and unable to remedy concerns of protestors as demos gain momentum
15:29 , James ReynoldsHolly Dagres, senior fellow at The Washington Institute, and curator of The Iranist newsletter, tells The Independent’s Chief International Correspondent Bel Trew:
“The Islamic Republic has been in a state of paralysis since October 7, exacerbated by the 12-day war. The clerical establishment is ossified in its ways and unable to seriously address the systemic problems Iranians have been protesting for years.
“Recognising that reform is dead and conditions on the ground are worsening, Iranians have increasingly taken to the streets to demand the ouster of the Islamic Republic. We haven’t seen protests light up all thirty-one provinces with the exception of 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom but the numbers from Thursday appear to be the largest protests we’ve witnessed in Iran.
“[Exiled prince, Reza] Pahlavi certainly has some support—just listen to the chants. This didn’t come out of nowhere; there’s been nostalgia for pre-1979 Iran for a long time, and Pahlavi has an institutional legacy.”
What do we know about the internet blackout in Iran?
15:04 , James ReynoldsIran was largely cut off from the outside world on Friday after authorities blacked out the internet to curb growing unrest.
Verified video already shared widely online has shown protests spreading to the majority of Iran’s provinces as the demonstrations gain momentum and threaten the regime.
There was also footage of past protests in other countries being falsely presented as Iran last night.
Protests have been spurred on by opposition factions online, including exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, who wrote on social media on Friday: "The eyes of the world are upon you. Take to the streets."
The internet blackout has sharply reduced the amount of information flowing out of the country. Phone calls into Iran were not getting through.
The Times has reported that activists have used Elon Musk’s Starlink devices to post content online. It also said that some influencers have had their Instagram posts taken down “due to criminal activity”.
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Punishment for rioters will be 'decisive, maximal' and 'without legal leniency', says head of judiciary in Iran
14:45 , Maira ButtIran’s judiciary has promised severe punishment for protesters as demonstrations entered their 14th day.
Judiciary head Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei was quoted by state media saying that the punishment of rioters would be “decisive, maximal, and without legal leniency”.
It comes as the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused demonstrators of being “terrorist agents” working for the US and Israel.
Several police officers killed in clashes
14:31 , Maira ButtSeveral people officers have been killed overnight as protests in Iran have become deadly clashes, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
At least 38 demonstrators are reported to have died and at least 2,200 people arrested as they demand that the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei steps down.
Iranian state TV shows burning buildings and vehicles.
EU's Kallas says violence against protesters 'unacceptable'
14:27 , Maira ButtThe European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy warned on Friday that violent crackdowns on Iran’s protesters are “unacceptable”.
“The Iranian people are fighting for their future. By ignoring their rightful demands, the regime shows its true colours,” Kaja Kallas wrote in a post on X/Twitter.
“Images from Tehran reveal a disproportionate and heavy-handed response by the security forces. Any violence against peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable.
“Shutting down the internet while violently suppressing protests exposes a regime afraid of its own people.”
UK, France and Germany agree that 'close coordination' is required
14:25 , Millie CookeThe leaders of the UK, France and Germany have agreed that "close coordination" is required in the coming weeks as events evolve in Iran.
After Sir Keir Starmer spoke with German chancellor Friedrich Merz and French president Emmanuel Macron on the phone on Friday morning, a Downing Street spokesperson said the leaders "agreed on the need for close coordination as events evolved".
The spokesperson also said Sir Keir "reiterated his support for those who exercised their right to peaceful protest".
Risk of foreign intervention 'very low' says Iran's foreign minister
14:05 , Maira ButtIran’s foreign minister has said that the risk of foreign intervention is “very low” as US President Donald Trump warned it would hit Iran “hard” if it attacked protesters amid political unrest across the country.
Trump added that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be fleeing the country with reports that he could escape to Russia, sparking speculation that the US could intervene.
Iranian state TV shows burning vehicles amid protests
13:45 , Maira Butt
Full story: What is happening in Iran? Internet blackout and Israel blamed after widespread anti-regime protests
13:25 , Maira ButtBuildings, buses and shops have been burned to the ground turning Iran’s capital Tehran into a “war zone” as protests break out across the country demanding the fall of the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini.
At least 38 people have been killed in violent clashes with police and 2,200 arrested, according to human rights groups.
This unrest follows a tumultuous period for Tehran, which is still recovering from a 12-day conflict in June, initiated by Israel, that saw US forces bomb Iranian nuclear facilities.
“This looks like a war zone – all the shops have been destroyed,” said an Iranian journalist in front of the fires on Shariati Street in the Caspian Sea port of Rasht.
Here’s what to know about the protests and the challenges facing Iran’s government.
What is happening in Iran? Internet blackout and Israel blamed after mass protests
Watch: Crowds take to streets across Iran after call to defy regime
13:05 , Maira ButtIn pictures: Nationwide blackout as protestors take to the streets of Tehran
12:45 , Maira Butt
Trump says he has 'put Iran on notice' and warns US will 'hit them very hard'
12:23 , Maira ButtUS President Donald Trump said he had put Iran “on notice” following widespread protests across the country.
“There’s so many people protesting. Nobody’s ever seen anything like what’s happening right now, but I have put Iran on notice that if they start shooting at them — these people are totally unarmed people, and they love their country,” Trump told Sean Hannity on Fox News on Thursday.
“They want something to happen. Look at their country. They’ve gone back 150 years.
“But I’ve warned them that if they do anything bad to these people, we’re going to hit them very hard.I’ve said it very loud and very clear, that’s what we’re going to do.”
Khamenei planning to flee Iran, says Trump
12:16 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump has suggested that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is planning on fleeing the country amidst unrest.
He said Khamenei is “looking to go someplace” when asked about reports he could escape to Russia and said that the country was on the “verge of collapsing” on Thursday.
Protestors have chanted “death to Khamenei” after the son of the toppled former leader Shah Reza Pahlavi, called for citizens to take to the streets.
Iranian officials told the New York Times that the government had been “thrust into survival mode”. Last week reports emerged that Khamenei could flee to Russia.
Ayatollah blames Trump and Israel for protests
12:08 , Maira ButtIranian authorities have blamed “terrorist agents” from the US and Israel for the unrest. The Ayatollah called protesters “saboteurs” and said they were “ruining their own streets on make the President of another country happy”.
US president Donald Trump warned that if Tehran "violently kills peaceful protesters" the US "will come to their rescue,” threats that acquired fresh resonance following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a long-standing ally of Tehran, by American troops.
“We’re watching it very closely,” Mr Trump said on Sunday. “If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States.”
The country has been reeling from a 12-day conflict in June, initiated by Israel, which saw US forces bomb Iranian nuclear facilities. A widening economic crisis has seen the population struggling with an annual inflation rate of 40 per cent.
Iran's flailing economy amid sanctions
11:45 , Maira ButtIran's theocratic government is facing intensified pressure as nationwide protests erupt, fuelled by the Islamic Republic’s struggling economy.
Economic hardship has deepened significantly since September, when the United Nations reimposed sanctions on the country due to its atomic programme.
This has plunged Iran’s rial currency into freefall, now exchanging at more than 1.4m to $1. Concurrently, Tehran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” – a coalition of countries and militant groups backed by the capital – has been significantly weakened since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2023.
President of European Parliament hits out at EU's Iran Mission
11:20 , Maira ButtThe president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, has hit out at the EU’s Iran Mission amid ongoing protests in the country.
On Thursday, the Iran Mission wrote that it rejected the “interventionist statements” made by the EU President.
It wrote: “Their hypocrisy and double-standard approach towards rights and principles is disgusting.”
Metsola responded on X/Twitter on Friday, writing: “Must be nice to be able to tweet from Europe and be able to use the Internet freely to publicly disagree with leaders, without being arrested, beaten or having the country’s telecommunications disabled.
“That's the sort of thing people in Iran's streets are asking for...”
Flights between Dubai and Iran cancelled
11:05 , Maira ButtSeveral flights between Dubai and Iranian cities, Tehran, Shiraz and Mashhad, have been cancelled amid political arrest across the country.
A flydubai spokesperson said that flights to Iran had been cancelled and that the airline "will continue to monitor the situation" and revise its flight schedule accordingly in a statement on Friday.
It did not give a reason for the disruption. Two flights between Doha, Qatar and Tehran scheduled for Friday had been cancelled. Turkish media reported Turkish Airlines cancelled 17 flights. Pegasus Airlines also cancelled flights to Iranian cities on Friday.
Tehran looks like 'war zone', say local media
10:39 , Maira ButtScenes in Iran resemble a “war zone” in the aftermath of widespread protests in Tehran, according to local media.
“This looks like a war zone – all the shops have been destroyed,” said a star journalist in front of the fires on Shariati Street in the Caspian Sea port of Rasht.
Images emerging from the country show burning buses, cars and motorbikes as well as fires at metro stations and banks.
Ayatollah Khamenei gives first public address amid protests
10:24 , Maira ButtIran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called President Donald Trump “arrogant”, saying he would be “overthrown” in his first public address since protests erupted across Iran.
He said protesters are “ruining their own streets on make the President of another country happy”.
Khamenei insisted the Islamic Republic would not “back down”.
“The Islamic Republic will not tolerate mercenaries working for foreign powers,” he continued.
“To President Trump: focus on the problems in your own country.”
He added: “Everyone should know that the Islamic Republic came to power with the blood of hundreds of thousands of honorable people, and it will not back down in the face of saboteurs.”
How widespread are the protests?
09:59 , Maira ButtMore than 340 protests have taken place across all of Iran's 31 provinces, according to a report by the US.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency on Thursday.
At least 38 people have been killed with more than 2,200 arrested, according to the agency, which relies on an activist network inside of Iran for its reporting.
Understanding the scale of the protests has been difficult. Iranian state media has provided little information about the demonstrations.
Online videos offer shaky glimpses of people in the streets or the sound of gunfire. Journalists in general in Iran also face limits on reporting such as requiring permission to travel around the country, as well as the threat of harassment or arrest by authorities.
But the protests do not appear to be stopping, even after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday said "rioters must be put in their place."
In pictures: Millions gather in Tehran to demand regime change
09:56 , Maira ButtFootage and images from Iran, which is facing a blackout, shows disruption across the city of Tehran as demonstrators demand regime change.
Why Iran’s protests are escalating amid nuclear tensions with US
09:52 , Maira ButtIran's theocratic government is facing intensified pressure as nationwide protests erupt, fuelled by the Islamic Republic's struggling economy.
This unrest follows a tumultuous period for Tehran, which is still recovering from a 12-day conflict in June, initiated by Israel, that saw US forces bomb Iranian nuclear facilities.
Economic hardship has deepened significantly since September, when the United Nations reimposed sanctions on the country due to its atomic programme. This has plunged Iran's rial currency into freefall, now exchanging at more than 1.4 million to $1. Concurrently, Tehran's self-described "Axis of Resistance" – a coalition of countries and militant groups backed by the capital – has been significantly weakened since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2023.
Read the full story below.
Why Iran’s protests are escalating amid nuclear tensions with US
Watch: Crowds take to streets across Iran after call to defy regime
09:52 , Maira ButtIran authorities cut internet as buildings set on fire during mass protests in Tehran
09:49 , Maira ButtBuildings were set on fire in Tehran and Iran faced a complete internet blackout on Thursday evening as massive protests over the economy spread across the country.
People took to the streets in a growing list of cities across the country, in what was rapidly becoming one of the biggest challenges ever to Iran’s clerical leadership.
Huge crowds of protesters in Tehran shouted from their homes and rallied in the street after a call by the country's exiled crown prince for mass demonstrations against the regime.
It was a new escalation in unrest that has spread nationwide across the Islamic Republic, and represented the first test of whether the Iranian public could be swayed by appeals from Reza Pahlavi, whose fatally ill father fled Iran just before the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution.
