Additional Coverage:
Iran Plunges into Further Chaos as Protests Intensify Amidst Internet Blackout
Tehran, Iran – Iran’s widespread unrest entered its thirteenth day on Friday, marked by a sweeping internet blackout that has largely severed the nation from the outside world. Authorities have escalated threats of severe punishment as anti-regime protests continue to spread across the country. According to Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), at least 51 protesters, including nine children, have been killed, with hundreds more sustaining injuries.
In Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump addressed the escalating crisis, stating that Iran is “in big trouble” and facing mounting pressure. “It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago,” Trump remarked. “We’re watching the situation very carefully.”
Trump issued a stern warning, asserting that the United States would respond forcefully if the Iranian regime resorts to mass violence. “We’ll be hitting them very hard where it hurts.
And that doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts.” He expressed hope that such action would not be necessary, contrasting the current situation with past events where he claimed President Obama “totally backed down.”
The President attributed the unrest to Iran’s leadership, criticizing their treatment of the populace. “They’ve done a bad job. They’ve treated the people very badly, and now they’re being paid back,” he said.
Banafsheh Zand, an Iranian-American journalist and editor of the Iran So Far Away Substack, anticipates that demonstrations will intensify despite the communications blackout. Zand described the current unrest as unprecedented in the Islamic Republic’s 47-year history, stating, “Absolutely, this is the first time in 47 years.
February 12 will mark 47 years that we have this opportunity.” A senior U.S. official confirmed no change in the U.S. military posture in the Middle East, with U.S.
Central Command closely monitoring developments, especially around Friday prayers and the regime’s response.
Thirteen days into the protests, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany issued their first joint declaration, expressing deep concern over reports of violence by Iranian security forces and condemning the killing of protesters. The statement urged Iranian authorities to “exercise restraint, refrain from violence, and uphold the fundamental rights of Iran’s citizens.”
The opposition-linked National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) reported that security forces killed a significant number of protesters overnight in several cities, including Tehran and Karaj, though these claims could not be independently verified. NCRI leader Maryam Rajavi emphasized that change can only be achieved by the Iranian people themselves through an organized, nationwide resistance.
Reuters reported that Iran has been effectively isolated due to authorities shutting down internet access, severely limiting the flow of information. Flights between Dubai and Iran were canceled, and verified videos showed widespread arson in multiple cities.
Footage from Tehran depicted hundreds of demonstrators chanting “Death to Khamenei!” and slogans supporting the monarchy.
In Zahedan, a protest march following Friday prayers was met with gunfire, wounding several people, according to rights group Hengaw. Iranian state television aired images of clashes and fires, while the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported several police officers were killed overnight.
In a televised address, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed not to back down. Analysts suggest that while the current unrest hasn’t yet drawn as broad a cross-section of society as previous protest waves, the Iranian authorities appear more vulnerable due to a dire economic situation and the aftermath of last year’s conflict with Israel and the United States.
The protests originated late last month with shopkeepers and bazaar merchants demonstrating against accelerating inflation and the collapse of the rial, which lost about half its value last year. Inflation topped 40% in December. The unrest quickly spread to universities and provincial cities, with young men clashing with security forces.
Despite the unrest, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that the likelihood of foreign military intervention was “very low,” noting that Oman’s foreign minister would visit Tehran on Saturday.
The Islamic Republic has weathered numerous waves of nationwide unrest over the decades. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the current uprising can sustain momentum under intensified repression or meet a similar fate.