Mass anti-government protests have erupted in Iran’s capital Tehran and several other cities, marking what observers describe as the most significant show of force by opponents of Iran’s clerical establishment in years, according to BBC reports.
Large crowds of demonstrators marched through Tehran and the country’s second-largest city, Mashhad, on Thursday evening, with verified footage reviewed by BBC Persian showing peaceful demonstrations that were not immediately dispersed by security forces.
Calls for Regime Change and Internet Disruption
In the videos, protesters can be heard chanting slogans calling for the overthrow of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and demanding the return of Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late Shah of Iran. Reza Pahlavi had previously urged his supporters to take to the streets, encouraging public demonstrations against the current leadership.
Later in the evening, a monitoring group reported a nationwide internet disruption, raising concerns over potential efforts by authorities to limit communication and the flow of information as unrest spread across the country.
The protests underline growing public discontent and represent a significant challenge to Iran’s ruling clerical establishment, amid heightened domestic and international scrutiny.
