Protests in Iran continue: internet outages, canceled flights, and calls to overthrow the supreme leader.

BarcelonaAnti-government protests in Iran continue to escalate. Tonight, massive demonstrations filled the streets of Tehran and other cities across the country, with calls to overthrow the Islamic regime. Authorities responded by cutting off internet access nationwide. Phone lines are down, flights have been canceled, and news websites are only updating intermittently. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei delivered a televised address in which he accused the protesters of acting under the orders of Donald Trump and warned that Iran "will not yield to those who commit acts of vandalism." The trigger for the protests this time was high inflation and the collapse of the local currency, the rial. But after twelve days, the demonstrations are putting the ayatollahs' regime on the ropes. Since December 28, the wholesale shops in Tehran's Grand Bazaar, Iran's economic engine, have been closed. Schools in the capital also suspended classes, and universities canceled end-of-term exams. The mobilizations have spread like wildfire across the country's 31 provinces: there have been demonstrations in more than a hundred cities.

The protests are growing larger, and the chants against the ayatollahs' regime are getting louder. The son of the former Shah, Reza Pahlavi, has declared his intention to return to the country and take the reins, and has called on people via social media to continue taking to the streets en masse. Since the start of the demonstrations, 45 people have died in Iran and another two thousand have been arrested, according to the NGO Iran Human Rights.

Last week, the US president warned that he would come to the aid of Iranian protesters if they are repressed. His threat now sounds credible. after what happened in Venezuela last SaturdayKhamenei accused Trump on Friday of having "blood on his hands" following the US attacks on Iran in June, and urged him to focus on governing his own country: "Rule your own country, if you are capable," he retorted. The Supreme Leader referred to the protesters as "rioters who vandalize national property and pander to the US president." On Saturday, Khamenei urged the country's authorities to "talk to the protesters," but warned that "the vandals should be put in their place." Price increases

It all started on December 28th in Tehran's Grand Bazaar. Wholesale merchants lowered their shop shutters and took to the streets to protest after the government suspended a program that allowed importers and producers a preferential exchange rate for certain goods. It was the final straw in an already unsustainable situation: the rial has fallen to a historic low over the past year, and inflation has soared to 40% as a consequence of sanctions on the Iranian nuclear program, but also due to corruption and government mismanagement.

"Before, a one-liter bottle of oil cost two million rials, but now it costs ten million. Who can afford this?" asks an Iranian woman over the phone, preferring to remain anonymous. Eggs, chicken, and meat have also gone up in price. The protests are massive, she says. "By six in the evening, all the shops are closed, and people take to the streets to demonstrate." He also says there is a feeling of sadness, of weariness. Just over three years ago, there were already massive protests in Iran over the death in police custody of the young Mahsa AminiShe was arrested because her hijab didn't completely cover her hair. Last June, Iranians experienced another crisis: the United States bombed the country to destroy its nuclear facilities. What will happen now?

No one has an answer to this question, but what is certain is that the demonstrations have spread throughout the country. Shopkeepers have been joined by university students, middle-class people, and some members of the bourgeoisie. There have even been protests in cities traditionally loyal to the regime, such as Qom and Mashhad. "Freedom, freedom, freedom!", "Death to the dictator!", and "Don't be afraid, we are all in this together!" chant the protesters.

Videos are circulating on social media showing mass protestsBarricades in the streets and protesters trying to escape from riot police chasing them on motorcycles. In others, sounds and screams can also be heardIn fact, security forces have even stormed hospitals to arrest wounded protesters. Some have also been forced to make public confessions on state television to admit their alleged mistakes.

"Now that the regime is more unstable than ever and seriously fears for its survival, there is great concern that this time the crackdown will be even more violent and widespread than before. The United Nations and the international community have a responsibility to act decisively to prevent another massacre of protesters," warns the director of Humane Iran.

CIDOB's lead researcher, Samuele C. Abrami, also corroborates that this is an unprecedented situation, because never before have the merchants of the Grand Bazaar been so explicitly involved in the protests. "They represent the commercial heart of the country and are its political barometer. Their role was crucial to the fall of the Shah in 1979," he states.

He also emphasizes that the demonstrations are taking place in an unprecedented regional and international context. "Iran has emerged weakened after the Twelve-Day War [the US attack on its nuclear facilities], Venezuela was its ally, and it has also been affected by the fall of Assad in Syria and the weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon," he lists. And one more factor: "The United States is willing to intervene militarily to force changes in other countries." This has been demonstrated in Venezuela.

Political alternative

However, the expert clarifies that this is no guarantee of anything because "there are internal divisions within the regime, but there is no clear alternative to the opposition." According to him, the Shah's son is not a consolidated leader and is only supported by 30 to 35% of the Iranian population. Nevertheless, on social media, Reza Pahlavi is positioning himself as a viable alternative, and there is speculation that he may travel to Washington to meet with Trump soon.

On Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attempted to calm tensions, urging security forces to distinguish between protesters demonstrating against the country's economic situation and those he called "rioters" acting against national security. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani also adopted a conciliatory tone, calling for dialogue in an effort to restore calm.