Demonstrations had been reported in Tehran and dozens of different cities, together with Ahvaz within the oil-rich southwest, Mashhad within the northeast, Tabriz within the northwest, Shiraz within the south, and Isfahan in central Iran. The protests mark the 14th consecutive night time of nationwide violence directed on the Islamic Republic, which is nearing its fiftieth anniversary, activists mentioned.
Iran shuts off nationwide web as folks throughout the nation voice assist for Shah
Reza Pahlavi referred to as on Iranians to take to the streets from 6pm on January 10 and January 11, elevating nationwide symbols and reclaiming public area. Internet and cell networks had been shut down in massive elements of the nation, however movies despatched overseas (in some circumstances through satellite tv for pc connections akin to Starlink) confirmed massive crowds chanting slogans hostile to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and brazenly calling for the restoration of the Pahlavi monarchy.
Some of the chants included “Death to the dictator,” “Khamenei is a assassin,” and “We are ready for Pahlavi. We won’t depart, we’ll keep right here,” reflecting an more and more blatant rejection of the Islamic Republic and assist by some protesters of the Pahlavi monarchy’s pre-revolutionary nationwide symbols, together with the lion and solar flag.
In Tehran, protests broke out in a number of neighborhoods within the northern, western, and central districts, together with Saadat Abad, Heravi, Narmak, Jannat Abad, Punaq, Railway Square, Sadeghiyeh, Sharak-e-Ghab, Chitgar, Ekbatan, and Tajrish. Witnesses mentioned there have been crowds of a number of thousand folks in Helavy Square and Punak. Fireworks had been set off in some areas as a part of protests and, activists say, as a option to confuse safety forces.
The Helavy space is reported to be underneath notably intense surveillance, as it’s identified to comprise residences related to safety and intelligence personnel. Still, movies confirmed a whole lot of demonstrators gathered there, underscoring the dimensions and persistence of the unrest.
Elsewhere, footage confirmed protesters in a number of cities waving portraits of Reza Pahlavi, his late father Mohammad Reza Shah and former empress Farah Pahlavi. Other movies confirmed safety forces deploying drones to determine protesters. Demonstrators responded by heckling the plane and flashing “V for Victory” indicators.
Reports from Tehran and different cities additionally described clashes between demonstrators and safety forces, together with gunfire. In elements of jap and southern Tehran, witnesses claimed that non-Iranian forces had been concerned in crowd management and chanted non secular slogans when confronting protesters, however this declare couldn’t be independently verified.
In the northern metropolis of Babol, a video went viral with unconfirmed reviews that demonstrators stormed a police investigation constructing, freed a detained youth regardless of gunfire, and set the constructing on fireplace. We had been unable to independently confirm these accounts.
Protests in Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan province and the middle of Iran’s vitality trade, turned violent after safety forces intervened. Witnesses reported violent clashes and gunfire close to the native intelligence workplace in Golestan district, in addition to massive gatherings in different areas of the town, together with the central bazaar.
Despite communication disruptions, demonstrators mentioned they continued to obtain calls calling for demonstrations by way of satellite tv for pc TV channels from overseas. Reza Pahlavi’s earlier appeals, revealed on January 8 and January 9, initially inspired nighttime chanting inside residences. Instead, massive crowds flooded the streets of cities akin to Tehran and Mashhad, with some rallies numbering within the tens of 1000’s.
Reza Pahlavi mentioned in his newest assertion that he was getting ready to return to Iran, including that he believed victory was close to for what he referred to as the “nationwide revolution.” He urged protesters to maneuver into metropolis centres, work with dispersed crowds and put together to stay on the streets. He additionally referred to as on employees, particularly in key sectors akin to transport, oil, fuel and vitality, to launch a nationwide strike.
Meanwhile, the federal government is tightening its crackdown. According to the Human Rights Defenders News Agency (HRANA), at the very least 65 folks have been killed and a couple of,311 arrested within the first 13 days of the protests, with demonstrations recorded in 512 places in 180 cities throughout all 31 Iranian provinces.