Iran Protesters Defy Crackdown as Violent Clashes Intensify

Published: 11 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Protesters across Iran defied a deadly government crackdown on Saturday night, returning to the streets despite mounting reports that hundreds of people have been killed or wounded by security forces over the past three days. Verified videos and eyewitness accounts reviewed by the BBC indicate that the authorities are escalating their response, even as the country remains under one of the most severe internet shutdowns in its history.

Demonstrations have continued in major cities, including Tehran and Mashhad, as well as dozens of smaller towns, underscoring the depth of public anger at the Iranian leadership. The protests, which began more than two weeks ago, were initially sparked by soaring inflation and a worsening economic crisis. They have since evolved into a broader challenge to Iran’s political system, with demonstrators increasingly calling for an end to the clerical rule led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

On Saturday, Iran’s attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, issued one of the strongest warnings yet, declaring that anyone taking part in protests would be considered an “enemy of God,” a charge that under Iranian law can carry the death penalty. Human rights groups and activists believe hundreds of protesters have already been arrested since the unrest began, although the true scale of detentions remains unclear due to the restrictions on information coming out of the country.

The Iranian government has sought to portray the demonstrations as acts of vandalism orchestrated by foreign enemies. Ayatollah Khamenei dismissed the protesters as a “bunch of vandals” attempting to “please” US President Donald Trump. However, the geographic spread and persistence of the unrest suggest deep-rooted domestic grievances rather than isolated disturbances.

A central feature of the government’s response has been the near-total shutdown of internet access. Iran’s data infrastructure is tightly controlled by state and security authorities, and access to the global internet has long been restricted. During the current protests, however, authorities have gone further than ever before, not only cutting off connections to the outside world but also severely limiting the domestic intranet that many Iranians rely on for basic online services.

Internet researchers say the scale of the shutdown is unprecedented. Alireza Manafi, an expert cited by BBC Persian, described the current situation as “almost completely down,” noting that it is more severe than the blackout imposed during the “Women, Life, Freedom” protests three years ago. He said the only likely way for some Iranians to connect to the outside world was via satellite services such as Starlink, though he warned that such connections could potentially be traced by authorities.

The blackout has made independent reporting extremely difficult. The BBC and most other international news organisations are unable to report freely from inside Iran, complicating efforts to verify casualty figures and developments on the ground. Nonetheless, a steady stream of video footage has emerged on social media before being cut off, and journalists have been able to speak to some people inside the country.

Verified footage from Saturday night shows protesters taking over streets in Tehran’s Gisha district. In Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, multiple videos confirmed by BBC Verify depict violent clashes on Vakil Abad Boulevard. Masked protesters can be seen taking cover behind wheelie bins and makeshift bonfires as security forces line up in the distance. A vehicle, believed to be a bus, is shown engulfed in flames, while the sound of gunfire echoes through the scene.

In one particularly striking clip, a figure standing on a nearby footbridge appears to fire multiple gunshots in several directions as people scramble for cover behind a roadside fence. Green laser beams cut through the darkness, and the clanging of pots and pans, a familiar form of protest in Iran, can be heard amid the chaos.

Other videos from Tehran show crowds gathering in areas such as Punak Square in the west of the capital, which has emerged as a hotspot for protests. Footage from the Heravi district in north-east Tehran, authenticated by BBC Persian and BBC Verify, shows demonstrators marching through the streets and chanting slogans calling for the end of the clerical establishment.

The unrest has drawn strong reactions from abroad, particularly from the United States. On Saturday, President Donald Trump wrote on social media that “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before,” adding that the US “stands ready to help.” While he did not specify what form that help might take, American media outlets reported that Trump had been briefed on options for potential military strikes. The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal described the briefings as preliminary, with one unnamed official telling the Journal that there was no imminent threat to Iran.

The backdrop to these reports includes last year’s US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which sharply escalated tensions between Washington and Tehran. Several US politicians have openly expressed support for the protesters. Senator Lindsey Graham posted repeatedly on social media, telling Iranians that their “long nightmare is soon coming to a close” and warning Iran’s leadership that its brutality would not go unchallenged.

As dawn broke on Sunday, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, released a video message addressing protesters. Many demonstrators have invoked his name and called for his return as a symbol of an alternative to the Islamic Republic. In his message, Pahlavi said Iranians were not alone and claimed that international figures, including President Trump, were closely watching their struggle. He said he hoped to return to Iran soon.

Pahlavi also asserted that the Islamic Republic was facing a “severe shortage of mercenaries,” claiming that many members of the security forces had abandoned their posts or refused orders to suppress protesters. These claims could not be independently verified. He urged people to continue demonstrating but advised them to stay in groups and avoid unnecessary risks.

As Iran enters another tense day, the outcome of the protests remains uncertain. What is clear is that the combination of economic hardship, political repression and an increasingly forceful state response has pushed the country into one of its most serious crises in years, with implications that extend far beyond its borders.