Iran was plunged into a nationwide internet blackout Thursday evening as mass anti-government protests spread around the country, with Iranians shouting slogans against the ruling theocratic regime as anger mounts over economic turmoil and security crackdowns. Iran state media said “scattered” protests broke out in parts of the capital Tehran and other cities overnight and that an unspecified number of people had been killed and wounded, and public and private property damaged. In a Telegram post Friday morning, IRIB shared video it said showed the aftermath of the protests in Tehran. Iranian news outlets reported Thursday that at least five security personnel have also been killed in the unrest, including two members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The ongoing protests are the biggest public challenge to the regime since the 12-day war with Israel in June.

Source: CNN January 08, 2026 22:29 UTC