WASHINGTON: Son of the deposed king of Iran, self-exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, taking to the X, has asked his supporters to manifest against the regime, that had resorted to blackout internet in order to supress their protests, here on Friday (9th Jan, 2026).
According to Internet monitor Netblocks, authorities had imposed a total connectivity blackout on 8th Jan, and the country has been offline for a day now. Supreme leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that those manifesting on the streets were attempting to please Trump whose hands are soaked with Irani blood.
As Khamenei maintained that the regime would not give up, thousands of rioters, chanting slogans such as ‘death to the dictator’ are setting official batiments on fire either financed by regime-changers or genuinely angered over the inflation, rising cost of living and ever depreciating currency.
Crown prince Reza Pahlavi stated on X: “Great nation of Iran, the eyes of the world are upon you. Take to the streets and, as a united front, shout your demands. I warn the Islamic Republic, its leader, and the IRGC that the world and POTUS are closely watching you. Suppression of the people will not go unanswered.”
Thirty-five people lost their lives when angry rioters clashed with security forces of Iran at 300 sites in 92 cities of 27/31 provinces, driven by economic hardships. Law enforcers too were also among the slain. A cop, identified as Shahin Dehghan, was stabbed to death during manifestation carried out near Tehran on 8th Jan. Cynics go haywire wondering is this a foreign-choreographed uprising to bring the kingdom back, overthrowing the ruling theocracy? Or people are really fed-up with the economic policies of mullahs at the helm of affairs.
It may be recalled that following the shopkeepers’ shutter-down strike against unbearable cost of living here on 28th Dec last year, students and others took to the streets of Iran and clashed with security forces.
Reacting to the deaths during clashes with Police on 1st Jan, US President Donald Trump warned Tehran of intervention, by means of a post on Truth Social next day: “If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
Responding to American president’s threat, Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran and Senior Adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, took to the X to state: “Trump should know that US interference in this internal matter would mean destabilising the entire region and destroying America’s interests.”
It may be recalled that after the 29th Dec, 2025 manifestation by shopkeepers against economic hardship/soaring cost of living in Iran, protests also commenced in ten prestigious universities (7 situated in Tehran) resulting into the death of a member of security forces on 31st Dec, night.
Pupils took to the street day ahead of the temporary closure of banks, schools and businesses here in order to save fuel in cold weather. The Iranian rial has drastically dropped against other currencies augmenting import prices and harming retailers. lack of water and power.
Name of the son of Muhammad Reza Pahlavi the deposed king, 65-year-old crown-prince called Reza Pahlavi, also appeared (who lives in exile in the United States).
Crown Prince Reza Shah Pahlavi (above centre), took to the X to maintain: “I am with you. Victory is ours because our cause is just and because we are united…As long as this regime remains in power, the country’s economic situation will continue to deteriorate.”
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UN sanctions reimposed on Iran: Citing lack of co-operation from Iran apropos containing its nuclear program, UK, France and Germany activated the snapback mechanism to reimpose economic and military sanctions that were lifted a decade ago following a landmark international deal.
It may be recalled that, acting against the legal obligation under the terms of the decade old deal, Iran suspended inspections of its nuclear facilities when Israel and the US attacked its military bases and attempted to annihilate its nuclear sites.
On 21st July, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi of Iran while talking to Fox News said that his country could not give up its enrichment program.
Araghchi held: “It is now stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe, but obviously, we cannot give up our enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists.” FM of Iran further maintained if US was coming for talks for a win-win solution, he was ready to engage with them.
“We are ready to do any confidence-building measure needed to prove that Iran’s nuclear programme is peaceful and would remain peaceful forever, and Iran would never go for nuclear weapons, and in return, we expect them to lift their sanctions…
“So, my message to the United States is that let’s go for a negotiated solution for Iran’s nuclear programme…There is a negotiated solution for our nuclear programme. We have done it once in the past. We are ready to do it once again,” Araghchi said.
While US President Donald Trump had been insisting that American sorties at Fardow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites obliterated the nuclear program of Iran, savants at the helm of affairs insinuate that the centrifuges used to enrich uranium were moved before the attack.
Pentagon claimed that the attacks had degraded the nuclear program of Iran by a couple of years. But head of IAEA, Rafael Grossi, stated on 28th June that Iran could make bombs in a short time as it has the capacity to commence uranium enrichment in few months.
According to Rafael Grossi, contrary to President Donald Trumps’ claims, the 13th June (2025) attacks on three sites in Iran, did not totally obliterate Iran’s nuclear installations: “… one cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there!” He further said it had the capacity to commence uranium enrichment in few months.
The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran informed that it would stop cooperation with IAEA until the security of its nuclear installations is guaranteed. Commenting on the development, Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf accused IAEA of putting its global credibility up for sale.
IAEA had pulled its inspectors from Iran following its decision apropos stopping cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
Noting that the Agency had even refused to appear to condemn attack on nuclear installations of Iran Qalibaf said Iran would accelerate its civilian nuclear program.
Earlier, in a Media briefing apropos imminent adieu of Iran to NPT, DG of IAEA, Rafael Grossi held: “This would be, of course, very regrettable. I hope this is not the case. I don’t think this would help anybody.”
Viewers may recall that masses marched on the roads of Iran when Mahsa Amini (who was nabbed for not abiding Irani dress code for women) died in custody in 2022-2023.
Newspakistan.tv
