For more than a dozen days, Iran has been gripped by intense protests against the rule of the ayatollahs. Human rights organizations estimate that the demonstrations have cost at least 116 lives, while nearly 3,000 protesters have been detained and sent to detention centers and prisons. Iran’s Islamist authorities in Tehran have announced a tightening of repression against demonstrators. Senior officials of the United States have declared their support for the Iranian people. “Iran is looking toward freedom, perhaps as never before. The U.S. stands ready to help,” U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on social media.
Living in the United States, the son of Iran’s last shah, Reza Pahlavi, on Saturday urged protesting Iranians to seize city centers, and called on workers in the transport and energy sectors to launch nationwide strikes. He said he was preparing to return to his homeland. On Friday, he appealed to Trump for an intervention that would “help the Iranians.” Reuters notes that the president has so far declined to meet with Pahlavi, likely awaiting further developments in Iran.
Among the slogans chanted by Iranian demonstrators are cries of “Long live the Shah!” On Saturday, the façade of Iran’s embassy in London briefly saw the flag of the Islamic Republic replaced by the flag of the monarchy overthrown in 1979, after one of the protesters climbed onto the balcony of the building near Hyde Park.
Several hundred people gathered outside the diplomatic mission, waving the shah’s flags and chanting: “Democracy for Iran, King Reza Pahlavi, justice for Iran!”
Regime Tightens Repression
On Saturday, the Iranian regime announced harsher retaliation against demonstrators. Prosecutor General Mohammad Mowahedi-Azad declared that all participants in the protests would be considered “enemies of God,” a charge punishable by death.
Iran’s supreme spiritual and political leader, Ali Khamenei, signaled that Tehran intends to intensify repression against protesters and placed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on a higher state of readiness than during last year’s war with Israel.
The Revolutionary Guards stated that preserving the achievements of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and ensuring security are “red lines,” and that continuation of the current situation is unacceptable. Iran’s armed forces announced they would “protect and secure national interests, the country’s strategic infrastructure, and public property.”
More Than 116 Dead and Mass Protests
At least 116 people have been killed in the anti-government protests that began on December 28. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization, this toll includes only confirmed deaths, while the actual number of fatalities is difficult to determine due to government-imposed internet restrictions.
Among the dead are seven people under the age of 18, as well as 37 members of regime forces—soldiers, security officers, and even one prosecutor. HRANA emphasized that most victims were killed by gunfire or pellet guns, primarily at close range.
As for arrests, by the end of Saturday their number had reached 2,638. The identities and exact places of detention are known for 628 individuals; in the remaining cases, it is known that they were detained, but detailed information is lacking. On Saturday alone, 327 people were arrested.
HRANA also reported that from the beginning of the protests through Saturday—a total of 14 days—various demonstrations took place at 574 locations in 185 cities across all 31 provinces of the country.
This is the largest wave of protests against Iran’s theocracy since 2022, when the country was rocked by demonstrations and unrest following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died after being detained for allegedly improper wearing of the hijab. According to human rights organizations, more than 500 people were killed during the brutal crackdown at that time.
“The U.S. Is Ready to Help”
U.S. President Donald Trump, members of his administration, and figures from his political camp also commented on the situation in Iran.
Reuters recalls that Trump has repeatedly mentioned Iran among countries where the United States could carry out another armed intervention, following the military operation in Venezuela in early January, during which Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was abducted from Caracas.
“Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The U.S. president also shared a post about the change of the flag on the building of Iran’s embassy in London.
Media outlets also noted that Trump reposted a message from influential Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who referred to comments by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stating that “the U.S. supports the brave Iranian people.”
“Well said Secretary Rubio. This is truly not the Obama administration when it comes to standing up to the Iranian ayatollah and his religious Nazi henchmen, and standing behind the people of Iran protesting for a better life. To the regime leadership: your brutality against the great people of Iran will not go unchallenged. Make Iran Great Again,” Graham wrote.
In another post, Graham addressed the Iranian people directly:
“Your long nightmare is soon coming to a close. Your bravery and determination to end your oppression has been noticed by @POTUS and all who love freedom. When President Trump says Make Iran Great Again, it means the protestors in Iran must prevail over the ayatollah. That is the clearest signal yet that he, President Trump understands Iran will never be great with the ayatollah and his henchmen in charge,” he wrote.
“To all who are sacrificing in Iran, God bless. Help is on the way.,” he added.
Israel on High Alert
According to Reuters, Israel is on high alert in the event of a possible U.S. intervention in Iran.
Sources cited by Reuters who were present during weekend security consultations did not clarify what high alert means in practice. In June last year, Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war.
On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of U.S. intervention in Iran during a phone call, an Israeli source told Reuters. A U.S. official confirmed that the call took place but did not disclose the topics discussed.