Protests entered a decisive phase on the fifth day with the confirmed killing of at least three demonstrators: Dariush Ansari Bakhtiarvand in Fooladshahr, Amir-Hessam Khodayarifard in Kuhdasht, and Sh...

The fifth day of protests in Iran became the deadliest so far, with at least seven protesters killed by security forces, as rallies spread to new cities including the clerical stronghold of Qom, where...

At least six killed as demonstrations spread to religious stronghold; security forces deploy live ammunition against crowds Mass protests sweeping across Iran entered their fifth consecutive day on Thursday evening, with demonstrators in the holy city of Qom—a bastion of the Islamic Republic's clerical establishment—chanting "Cannon, tank, fireworks, the clerics must go," marking an unprecedented challenge to the regime in one of its most symbolically significant cities. The protests, which began as economic grievances over Iran's collapsing currency and soaring inflation, have rapidly evolved into a nationwide uprising with explicit calls for regime change and the return of the monarchy. Protests Reach Religious Heartland In what observers are calling a significant escalation, videos verified by Iran International show residents of Qom, home to the country's most powerful Shia seminaries and religious authorities, flooding the streets and chanting "Long Live the Shah"—a direct invocation of the Pahlavi dynasty overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The scenes from Qom are particularly striking given the city's role as the spiritual and political backbone of the Islamic Republic, where senior clerics and religious authorities loyal to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei are based. Despite a heavy deployment of security forces and violent confrontations with protesters, demonstrators maintained their presence in the streets, with footage showing crowds refusing to disperse even as government agents attempted to break up gatherings. Deadly Crackdown Intensifies The death toll from the protests has risen to at least six, with reports of security forces using live ammunition against unarmed demonstrators in multiple cities: Nahavand: Videos show security forces firing directly at protesters Thursday afternoon before charging into the crowd. In a dramatic act of defiance, demonstrators sat down on the ground in front of government forces, blocking the street. Nurabad, Lorestan: Witnesses report security forces opened fire during street gatherings, wounding several people. A police vehicle was set ablaze during the clashes. Fooladshahr: Dariush Ansari Bakhtiyarvand, a protester and resident of Fooladshahr, was killed Wednesday night by direct gunfire from government agents during evening demonstrations. A video circulating online shows Ansari singing a heroic Lori folk song inspired by Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, commemorating the warriors and heroes of the Lor people. Azna, Lorestan: Three people were killed and 17 injured late Thursday in clashes after a reported attack on a police station. Lordegan: At least two civilians were killed during confrontations between demonstrators and security forces. State media also reported that a 21-year-old member of the Basij paramilitary force was killed in Kuhdasht while "defending public order." Nationwide Scope Protests have been documented in cities across Iran, including: Tehran Mashhad Qom Kermanshah Arak Marvdasht Farsan Lordegan Kovar Nahavand Harsin Islamabad-e Gharb Nurabad (Lorestan) Doroud Neyshabur Kuhdasht In Marvdasht, security forces initially deployed to suppress protesters were forced to retreat after meeting fierce resistance from demonstrators. In Arak, a woman attempting simply to cross the street was detained by security forces and attacked with an electric stun gun, according to a witness who shared video of the incident with Iran International. In Islamabad-e Gharb, protesters remained in the streets chanting "Shameless, shameless!" despite the sound of gunfire from security forces. Merchants Join the Movement In a significant development, merchants from Tehran's central fruit and vegetable market in District 19 joined the protests on Thursday, chanting "Not Gaza, not Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran"—a slogan rejecting the regime's support for regional proxy groups at the expense of domestic welfare. The involvement of bazaar merchants echoes patterns from previous revolutionary movements in Iran's history, where the commercial class has often played a pivotal role in anti-government uprisings. Slogans Signal Shift in Demands The nature of protesters' chants reflects a fundamental shift from economic grievances to explicit calls for regime change: "Death to Khamenei" "Death to the dictator" "Long live the Shah" "Reza Shah, bless your soul" "This is the final battle, Pahlavi will return" "This year is the year of blood, Seyed Ali [Khamenei] will be overthrown" "Students will die but won't accept humiliation" "Not Gaza, not Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran" Political analyst Mojtaba Hashemi noted: "The Woman, Life, Freedom movement created a foundation for civic groups inside Iran to exchange views with one another. The result of these dialogues has reached a stage where people in markets and universities are now chanting 'Long live the Shah.'" Shahran Tabari, a member of the central council of the Aban 7 Front, observed: "The protests this time are clearly national and widespread; ordinary people have come to the streets shouting 'Reza Shah, bless your soul' and 'Pahlavi will return.' This means people trust only one person, and that is Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi." Crown Prince Issues Call to Action Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah and a leading opposition figure in exile, issued a message calling on Iranians to use "every opportunity, gathering, and event to expand the protests." His appeal comes as pro-monarchy slogans have become increasingly prominent in demonstrations across the country, marking a notable shift in the protest movement's political orientation. Mass Arrests Reported According to reports, at least 20 people have been arrested in Farsan county and at least 20 more in Kuhdasht as authorities attempt to contain the unrest. Security forces have also raided several universities to suppress student movements, while implementing internet blackouts in restive provinces. In Junqan, Farsan county (Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province), protesters set fire to the office of the city's Friday prayer imam, according to state-affiliated Mehr News Agency. Regime Response: Blame and Threats Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), blamed the protests on foreign countries and warned that nighttime gatherings are not "civil protests" but rather attempts to "create chaos and insecurity." The IRGC-linked outlet added that protesters approaching sensitive locations such as police stations could face "decisive action" from government forces, while describing the security crackdown as "professional" and conducted with "patience." International Reaction The protests have received extensive coverage in American and European media. Hannah Neumann, a German member of the European Parliament, wrote on social media: "The year 2026 begins in Iran with an open question: How long can the Islamic Republic govern against the will of its people?" She added: "Europe must respond decisively to the violence and mass arrests, and clearly stand with the people of Iran—not with those who have suppressed them for decades with fear and violence." Daniel Ilkhanipour, a member of the Hamburg state parliament from Germany's Social Democratic Party, called for the West to "clearly define its policy alongside the people of Iran." Football Coach Breaks Silence In a notable moment, Ricardo Sapinto, head coach of Iranian football club Esteghlal, acknowledged the unrest at a post-match press conference following his team's victory over Sepahan. "I know these days in Iran are not good days. I hope better days come for everyone," Sapinto said. The club's translator attempted to censor the remarks by omitting the phrase "in Iran" from the translation. Sapinto had previously shown solidarity with protesters during the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom uprising when Esteghlal players raised the Super Cup trophy in a symbolic protest gesture. Economic Crisis as Catalyst The protests were initially sparked by Iran's deepening economic crisis, with the rial plunging to approximately 1.4 million per U.S. dollar and inflation running at 40 percent. The economic turmoil has been exacerbated by the fallout from Israeli and U.S. strikes on nuclear infrastructure earlier in 2025. In response, President Masoud Pezeshkian appointed Abdolnasser Hemmati as the new Central Bank governor in an attempt to stabilize the currency, though the move has done little to quell public anger. This is a developing story. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.  Photo: Iran International

Protesters in the religious city of Qom were heard chanting “Clerics must get lost” in rare antigovernment demonstrations in the Shiite bastion. https://t.co/jc72E3lgVf