Iranian authorities imposed a nationwide internet blackout and severed international phone connections late Thursday as thousands responded to exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi's call for coordinated anti-government protests. Neighborhoods across Tehran and other cities erupted in chants at precisely 8 p.m. local time, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing nationwide unrest triggered by economic collapse.

Protesters shouted slogans including "Death to the dictator!" and "Death to the Islamic Republic!," with some voicing support for the pre-1979 monarchy, proclaiming "Pahlavi will return!" Witnesses reported massive crowds on streets before communications were abruptly cut, isolating Iran's over 85 million citizens from the outside world.

Pahlavi, son of the last shah ousted in the 1979 revolution, had urged disciplined mass participation from homes or streets on Thursday and Friday evenings. He warned that any internet shutdown would signal regime fear and called on global leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, to restore communications and hold authorities accountable.

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The protests, now in their twelfth day, stem from a plunging rial currency and soaring inflation following tightened sanctions and the aftermath of a brief June 2025 war with Israel. Markets and bazaars have shuttered in solidarity, while reported clashes have resulted in dozens of deaths and thousands of arrests, according to human rights monitors.

International attention has intensified, with Trump reiterating threats of severe U.S. response to violent crackdowns on demonstrators. The leaderless movement's future direction remains uncertain, as Pahlavi's influence tests the potential for unified opposition against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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