Overview
- Mass turnouts filled streets in Tehran, Mashhad and Tabriz, with verified footage showing some of the largest demonstrations in years.
- NetBlocks recorded a near-national shutdown on Thursday night that severely disrupted communications across the country.
- Iran Human Rights reports at least 45 dead, including eight minors, with hundreds wounded and more than 2,000 arrests, while state outlets cite at least 21 deaths including security personnel.
- Overnight clashes escalated with vehicles and government buildings set ablaze, and a police officer died after a reported stabbing near Tehran, according to Fars.
- Protesters chanted against Ali Khamenei and for Reza Pahlavi as exiled opposition urged mobilization, President Trump warned he would “hit very hard” if killings continued, state TV blamed foreign-backed “terrorists,” and President Massoud Pezeshkian called for restraint.