Iranian security forces are preparing to escalate their response to the most significant wave of anti-government demonstrations in years, as protests continued to spread across the country over the weekend. The elite Revolutionary Guards have blamed the unrest on terrorists and vowed to protect the governing system, signaling a harsh crackdown.
Nationwide Unrest and Internet Blackout
Fresh reports of violence emerged from numerous Iranian cities on Saturday, January 10, 2026, though a widespread internet blackout has made confirming the full scope of the situation challenging. After nightfall, videos posted online purported to show new protests erupting in several neighbourhoods of the capital, Tehran, as well as in the northern city of Rasht, the northwestern city of Tabriz, and the southern cities of Shiraz and Kerman.
State media reported that a municipal building was set on fire in Karaj, west of Tehran, blaming "rioters" for the act. Iranian state television also broadcast footage of funerals for members of the security forces it said were killed during protests in Shiraz, Qom, and Hamedan.
The protests, which began on December 28, were initially sparked by soaring inflation but have rapidly turned political, with participants now demanding an end to the country's clerical rule. Authorities have consistently accused the United States and Israel of fomenting the unrest.
International Reactions and Opposition Calls
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to intervene in recent days, took to social media on Saturday with a message of support for the protesters. "Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!" he posted. Trump had previously warned Iran's leaders on Friday, stating, "You better not start shooting because we’ll start shooting too."
From abroad, a prominent voice in the fragmented opposition issued a forceful call for revolution. Reza Pahlavi, the 65-year-old U.S.-based son of Iran's last shah, declared in a video that the goal was no longer merely to protest but to "prepare to seize city centres and hold them." He claimed the Islamic Republic would be brought "to its knees" and said he was preparing to return to Iran soon.
Some protesters have been heard chanting slogans in support of Pahlavi, though most calls have focused on ending clerical rule or fixing the economy. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused the protesters of acting as "mercenaries for foreigners" on behalf of Trump.
Escalating Violence and Official Response
The human cost of the unrest continues to rise. According to the Iranian rights group HRANA, at least 50 protesters and 15 security personnel have been killed, with approximately 2,300 people arrested. A doctor in northwestern Iran reported that since Friday, hospitals have received large numbers of injured protesters with severe injuries, including beatings, broken bones, and deep cuts. The doctor confirmed that at least 20 people in one hospital had been shot with live ammunition, five of whom died.
The Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), the powerful force that has suppressed past unrest, issued a statement broadcast on state TV. It accused "terrorists" of attacking military and law enforcement bases over the previous two nights, claiming several citizens and security personnel were killed. The IRGC stated that safeguarding the achievements of the Islamic revolution was a "red line." The regular military also pledged to protect national infrastructure and public property.
On the ground, a witness in western Iran reached by phone reported that the IRGC was deployed in their area and was opening fire. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported the arrest of 100 "armed rioters" in the town of Baharestan near Tehran.
A senior U.S. intelligence official described the situation as an "endurance game," with the opposition trying to maintain pressure until key government figures defect, and authorities trying to clear the streets without provoking direct U.S. intervention. As the internet blackout persists and reports of violence mount, the standoff in Iran appears to be entering a new, more dangerous phase.
