Deadly protests spread nationwide amid blackout Demonstrations that began in late December over economic grievances surged on Jan 9‑10, 2026, reaching at least 65 fatalities and prompting the detention of more than 2,300 participants according to HRANA [1][2]. The government ordered a total internet blackout and cut international telephone lines, hampering independent verification while videos still showed crowds chanting in Tehran and other cities [1][2]. Authorities reported clashes in multiple urban centers as the unrest persisted into the night [2].

Supreme Leader frames demonstrations as anti‑American Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed a crowd, accusing protesters of acting to please U.S. President Donald Trump and branding the American leader “blood‑stained” for Iran’s suffering [1][2]. State television broadcast supporters shouting “Death to America,” reinforcing the regime’s narrative that the unrest is politically motivated rather than purely economic [1][2]. Khamenei urged Iranians to focus on internal affairs and warned the United States to attend to its own problems [1].

Judiciary chief promises maximum punishment Gholamhossein Mohseni‑Ejei, head of Iran’s judiciary, declared that penalties for demonstrators would be “decisive, maximum and without any legal leniency,” signaling a hard‑line approach to deter further action [1][2]. The statement was issued alongside reports of escalating violence and the looming possibility of a broader security crackdown [2]. No details on specific legal processes were provided, only the intent to impose severe sanctions [1].

European leaders issue joint condemnation German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron released a coordinated statement denouncing the reported deadly violence and urging Iran to allow its citizens to express themselves without fear of reprisals [1][2]. The trio emphasized respect for human rights and called for an end to the crackdown [1][2]. Their condemnation reflects growing international pressure on Tehran amid the crisis [2].

Exiled royal calls for coordinated street action Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi appealed to Iranians to gather at 8 p.m. local time on Thursday and Friday, describing the mobilization as a turning point for the protest movement [1][2]. His call was credited by organizers with helping to synchronize demonstrations across the country [1]. The appeal coincided with the internet shutdown, complicating real‑time organization but amplifying the symbolic impact of the coordinated timing [2].

U.S. president threatens military response President Donald Trump linked the Iranian unrest to his recent raid on Venezuela’s former president Nicolás Maduro, pledging that any further killings of protesters could trigger a forceful U.S. strike on Iran [2]. He framed the potential action as a direct response to Tehran’s handling of the protests, though he stopped short of committing ground troops [2]. The rhetoric adds a new dimension to the geopolitical stakes surrounding the domestic crackdown [2].