WATCH: Massive anti-government protests errupt in Iran
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When did Ayatollah Ali Khamenei become Iran’s supreme leader?
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei became Iran’s second Supreme Leader on June 4, 1989, following the death of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. His appointment was made by the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body empowered to select the country’s highest authority.
Before assuming the role, Khamenei served as Iran’s president from 1981 to 1989, navigating the country through the latter years of the Iran‑Iraq war. Since then, he has remained in power for more than three decades, making him the longest‑serving head of state in the Middle East.
Iran protests: Where are they happening?
Mass protests have erupted across Iran, with huge crowds marching in Tehran, Mashhad, and dozens of other cities in what rights groups describe as the largest challenge to the clerical establishment in years. Verified footage shows demonstrators chanting against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and calling for the return of exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi.
The unrest, now in its 12th consecutive day, has spread to more than 100 towns across all 31 provinces. Demonstrations began over the collapse of the rial but have quickly taken on an anti‑regime focus. Videos from Isfahan, Babol, Tabriz, and Dezful show chants of “Death to the dictator” and “Long live the shah,” while Kurdish regions in Ilam, Kermanshah, and Lorestan have seen general strikes and deadly clashes.
Rights monitors report dozens of deaths, including children, and thousands of arrests. Authorities have imposed a nationwide internet blackout, sharply limiting communication and information flow. Despite the crackdown, opposition groups and student activists continue to call for more demonstrations, making this the most widespread unrest since the 2009 post‑election protests.
Why are people protesting in Iran?
What began as demonstrations over economic hardship has morphed into direct challenges to Iran’s leadership. The rial lost half its value against the dollar last year, while inflation soared above 40 percent.
Shopkeepers and bazaar merchants first took to the streets, but protests have since spread to universities and provincial cities, drawing young men into clashes with security forces.
Khamenei vows crackdown as Iran unrest deepens
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pledged Friday that Iran would not back down amid mounting protests, accusing demonstrators of acting on behalf of opposition groups abroad and the United States.
A public prosecutor warned that those accused of sabotage or violence could face death sentences, underscoring the regime’s hardening stance as unrest spreads.
Why did Iran cut off internet access?
Iran largely severed internet access on Friday as authorities sought to contain mounting unrest, with protests spreading across multiple cities and footage showing buildings and vehicles set ablaze. Rights groups say dozens of demonstrators have been killed in nearly two weeks of clashes, while state media reported police casualties overnight.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed not to back down, accusing protesters of acting on behalf of exiled opposition groups and the United States. Tehran’s prosecutor warned that those accused of sabotage or violence could face the death penalty.
The blackout has sharply reduced information leaving the country, disrupting phone calls and flights, while verified videos still showed crowds in Tehran chanting against Khamenei. Demonstrations began over inflation and the collapse of the rial but have evolved into direct challenges to Iran’s leadership.
Authorities have attempted a dual approach—acknowledging economic grievances while labeling other demonstrators as violent rioters. The unrest underscores the government’s vulnerability amid economic crisis, shrinking alliances abroad, and growing anger over corruption and social restrictions.
Exiled crown prince Pahlavi emerges as symbol in Iran protests
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, has re‑entered the spotlight as antigovernment protests sweep across the country. At 65, nearly five decades after the 1979 revolution ended his father’s rule, chants of “Pahlavi will return” and “Javid Shah” echoed through demonstrations Thursday night.
The protests, which began in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar over economic grievances, have expanded into a broader challenge to Iran’s leadership. Pahlavi, based in the United States, has urged Iranians to continue their resistance and is increasingly seen by some demonstrators as a symbolic figure of opposition.
Support for the monarchy remains taboo inside Iran, where expressing loyalty to the deposed dynasty is a criminal offense.
Tehran joins widespread Iran protests as unrest reaches new peak
Iran is witnessing its most sustained and wide‑ranging unrest in years, with demonstrations spreading across the capital, Tehran, and the Kurdish regions. Eyewitness footage captured before authorities cut internet access shows crowds chanting directly against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, holding him responsible for the country’s worsening conditions.
The protests intensified after exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi urged Iranians to join the movement. Days earlier, Kurdish political parties and women’s rights groups in exile had called for a general strike, leading to shutdowns in more than 50 cities and towns across four provinces.
Human rights groups report that over 40 people have been killed during the unrest, with BBC Persian confirming the identities of 21 victims through their families.
The demonstrations reflect deep frustration over collapsing economic conditions, fueled by U.S.‑led sanctions and the sharp decline of the rial. Anger over social restrictions, corruption, and political unaccountability has added to the momentum, with many protesters saying they feel they have little left to lose.