Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei signaled a violent crackdown on protesters Friday as nationwide demonstrations enter their second week. The regime plunged Iran into a total internet blackout overnight to stifle coordination among anti-regime activists.
The death toll from the unrest has reportedly reached 44 people across several major cities. Live network data from NetBlocks confirmed that internet traffic collapsed shortly after calls for mass protests circulated.
Khamenei’s warning follows a direct military threat from President Donald Trump. Trump vowed on Truth Social that the U.S. is "locked and loaded" to intervene if the regime kills peaceful protesters.
The President reiterated his stance during a Thursday interview with Hugh Hewitt. Trump warned that if Iranian security forces use lethal force, "they will be hit very hard."
Khamenei dismissed the warnings during a televised address as supporters chanted "Death to America!" He claimed Trump’s hands are "stained with the blood of Iranians" and accused protesters of serving foreign interests.
The Iranian leader argued that citizens were "ruining their own streets" to please the American president. State media also claimed that "terrorist agents" from the U.S. and Israel were responsible for the street fires.
Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has emerged as a central figure in encouraging the demonstrations. Pahlavi praised the "massive crowds" for forcing repressive security forces to retreat during Thursday's marches.
"I am proud of each and every one of you who took over the streets across Iran," Pahlavi wrote on X. He urged those who were hesitant to join fellow compatriots for even larger protests on Friday night.
Short videos smuggled out before the blackout showed protesters chanting against the regime around bonfires. Debris littered the streets of Tehran as the public defiance against the Islamic Republic intensified.
The Trump administration has been aggressively pushing Persian-language messaging to support the activists. Activists say this approach has emboldened the Iranian people more than the policies of previous U.S. administrations.
The situation remains highly volatile as Friday prayers approach in Tehran. Both the regime and the protesters are preparing for a potential escalation in violence as the sun sets over the capital.