Iran protests LIVE updates: Internet cut off amid fresh escalation in Tehran; security forces accused of firing on protesters

Iran's service main Amir Hatami (C) posing for a photograph with subject officials and subject academy students successful Tehran. Iran's subject main warned connected January 7, 2026, that Iran volition not basal by and let itself to beryllium threatened by extracurricular powers, aft the U.S. and Israel backed anti-government protests. | Photo Credit: AFP

A nationwide net blackout was reported successful Iran connected Thursday nighttime (January 8, 2026) amid a caller question of escalation successful Tehran pursuing a telephone for wide objection by the country’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. This comes aft 12 days of protests successful the state implicit its ailing economy. 

Rights groups accused Iranian information forces of shooting astatine protesters arsenic the decease toll mounted from a crackdown by authorities. So far, astatine slightest 39 radical person been killed, portion much than 2,260 others person been detained, arsenic per the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

Also Read | At a crossroads: On Iran’s unrest, its re-engagement with the world

U.S. President Donald Trump connected Thursday (January 8) threatened to instrumentality terrible enactment if Iranian authorities “start sidesplitting people” who are protesting, informing that Washington would “hit them precise hard”. The state nether Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is battling an economical situation aft years of sanctions and recovering from the June warfare against Israel.

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