Iran is gripped by a nationwide uprising as massive numbers of citizens pour into the streets, defying a violent regime crackdown, an imposed internet blackout, and the ever-present threat of death. Strikes have paralyzed sectors of the economy, cities are filled with nighttime marches, and despite live gunfire from security forces, the crowds continue to grow.

Video circulating despite severe connectivity restrictions shows thousands of Iranians marching through Tehran after dark, chanting against the ruling clerics and demanding an end to the Islamic Republic. The regime has attempted to sever communication with the outside world, but the scale of the demonstrations has made silence impossible. The country is effectively on strike, with public anger spilling into every major province.

Reports indicate that regime forces have continued firing on protesters, killing dozens. Yet the violence has failed to deter the population. Demonstrators return night after night, even as arrests mount and internet access remains largely cut. The persistence of the protests underscores a population that no longer fears intimidation.

Adding to the perception of a regime under strain, senior Iranian clerics have been spotted departing the country, including sightings at Moscow’s airport. For many protesters, these images symbolize a ruling class preparing exit strategies while ordinary citizens risk their lives demanding change.

The uprising began on December 28, 2025, sparked by economic collapse, rampant inflation, and years of repression. What started as economic protests has rapidly evolved into an open revolutionary movement, with chants calling for the complete overthrow of the Islamic Republic and, increasingly, the return of Reza Pahlavi as a unifying national figure.

According to open-source monitoring, demonstrations have now spread across dozens of cities and towns, cutting across ethnic, religious, and economic lines. The message from the streets is unmistakable: Iranians are no longer asking for reform, but for the end of the regime itself.

The courage on display is staggering. Facing bullets, censorship, and intimidation, ordinary men and women continue to march, strike, and resist. Their determination reflects a historic moment — one in which a population appears willing to endure immense sacrifice in pursuit of freedom, dignity, and a future beyond the rule of the mullahs.