Overview
- Nationwide demonstrations over economic collapse and clerical rule have persisted for two weeks, met by mass arrests, lethal force, and a near‑national internet and phone shutdown.
- Exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has urged protesters to seize city centers, called for strikes in key sectors, and said he is preparing to return to Iran.
- Public backing for Pahlavi inside Iran remains uncertain, though some verified videos show pro‑monarchy chants, while his 2023 visit to Israel has complicated perceptions among opponents.
- President Donald Trump has warned Tehran against killing protesters and declined a meeting with Pahlavi, and the Washington Examiner reports he is considering U.S. military strikes.
- The Human Rights Activists News Agency reports at least 420 people, including eight children, have been killed, as experts caution that entrenched institutions like the IRGC make rapid political change unlikely.