Iran's regime defies Trump's threats as street protests grow
Tehran silences the country with an internet blackout and accuses protesters of acting in the service of foreign powers
BeirutNight fell again this Saturday on Iran without internet and with the streets still in motion. Despite the total communications blackout imposed by the authorities, new centers of protest are emerging in Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, and Qom. Images broadcast by Persian-language channels from abroad, verified by international agencies, show nighttime gatherings and slogans against the ayatollahs' regime. Fifteen days after the start of the mobilization, the standoff between the street protests and the security apparatus remains unresolved.
The communications blackout, in effect for more than 36 hours according to NetBlocks, is officially intended to halt the "coordination of riots." In practice, It prevents the documentation of abuses and isolates protest. Dissident filmmakers like Jafar Panahi and Mohamed Rasoulof warn that the blackout serves to conceal the violence of the crackdown. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi fears a "massacre under a total blackout," while some international NGOs are analyzing signs of an increasing use of live ammunition.
On the ground, information is fragmented. Persian-language channels based abroad broadcast videos of protesters tearing down regime symbols, while funerals for members of the security forces dominate state television programming. Since the beginning of the movement, human rights organizations have tallied dozens of deaths, including children, and hundreds of injuries. The regime does not acknowledge any figures.
Meanwhile, the regime is hardening its rhetoric. State television is broadcasting direct warnings to protesters, including calls for parents to keep their children at home "if they are worried about their safety." Official media outlets portray the protest as a coordinated attack against the state, while leaked images show security forces firing tear gas and live ammunition at the crowd.
The contrast is striking. On the official screen, young people mobilized in pro-government rallies sing religious hymns and glorify sacrifice. In videos circulating from abroad, protesters attack symbols of the regime and then disperse without seizing any property. Two overlapping political universes, no longer able to recognize each other. It's a fitting metaphor for the country's political situation, pressured from abroad and threatened by the United States. A few days ago, Trump warned that he would intervene if the Tehran government forcefully repressed the protesters. This was reaffirmed on Saturday in a post on Truth Social: "Iran is seeking FREEDOM like never before. And the United States is here ready to help."
International pressure is mounting
In a speech laden with threats, Ali Khamenei accused the protesters of acting on behalf of foreign powers and promised a firm response. But the need to constantly reaffirm his authority also revealed a crack. For decades, the supreme leader cultivated an image of unassailable power. Today, even through the official narrative, it is clear that this spell is beginning to crack.
Abroad, reactions are multiplying. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington "stands with the courageous Iranian people," while Donald Trump reiterated that he would intervene if the crackdown intensifies. Prince Reza Pahlavi, grandson of the last Shah, called on Iranians to occupy urban centers and urged the United States to take "immediate action" to protect the protesters. The regime accuses Washington and Israel of direct interference.
Behind the scenes, diplomatic channels remain open. Several Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, are exploring mediation between Washington and Tehran to avert a scenario of collapse or open war. Some regional capitals are considering a negotiated solution similar to the one attempted in Venezuela.as a way to avoid a regime collapse if the protests intensify.
What happens in the coming days could redefine not only the internal balance of power, but also Iran's influence in the region. from the conflicts in Syria and Lebanon to the relationship with global powers. Meanwhile, the protesters learn to move in the shadows, the international community observes, and the regime adjusts its narrative, aware that its authority, although seemingly intact, can no longer be taken for granted.
