Iran digs in as protests escalate nationwide

Khamenei defiant amid internet blackout, blames Trump for hand in violence

LONDON/PARIS:

Iran plunged into a near-total internet blackout on Friday as authorities moved to suppress the largest wave of anti-government protests in more than a decade, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei striking a defiant tone and insisting the Islamic republic "will not back down" despite mounting unrest.

Crowds chanting anti-government slogans marched through major cities late on Thursday, torching official buildings and openly calling for an end to the country's theocratic rule, turning an initially economic protest movement into one of the most serious challenges to the state in its 46-year history.

Internet monitoring group Netblocks said authorities imposed a total connectivity shutdown, adding that Iran had been offline for 12 hours "in an attempt to suppress sweeping protests". EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the latest developments exposed "a regime afraid of its own people".

In his first remarks since the protests escalated on January 3, Khamenei labelled demonstrators "vandals" and "saboteurs", accusing the United States of inciting unrest. He said US President Donald Trump's hands were "stained with the blood of more than a thousand Iranians".

"Everyone knows the Islamic republic came to power with the blood of hundreds of thousands of honourable people, it will not back down in the face of saboteurs," Khamenei declared on state television, as supporters chanted "death to America" during the address.

In a Fox News interview, Trump said enthusiasm to overthrow Iran's leadership was "incredible", warning that if protesters were killed, "we're going to hit them very hard". He also suggested Khamenei may be looking to leave Iran.

The protests were the biggest since nationwide rallies in 2022-23 sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. Rights groups reported clashes across the country, with the Haalvsh organisation saying security forces opened fire on protesters in Zahedan after Friday prayers.

Norway-based Iran Human Rights said at least 45 people had been killed, while BBC Persian separately verified the deaths and identities of 22 individuals. Videos showed large demonstrations in Tabriz, Mashhad, Kermanshah and other cities, including Iran's Kurdish-populated west.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council accused Israel of backing the protests, saying unrest that began with economic demands had, "under Israeli guidance and planning, turned into an attempt to create disorder in the country", as multiple flights to Tehran were cancelled.

The Revolutionary Guards warned the situation was "unacceptable" and protecting the revolution was its "red line", while judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said punishment of "rioters" would be "decisive, the maximum and without any legal leniency".

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington and Israel of "directly intervening" to turn peaceful protests violent, as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said security forces had unlawfully used live ammunition, metal pellets, tear gas and beatings since protests erupted on December 28.