Iranian authorities have pointed the finger at the United States and Israel for orchestrating violent protests that have swept across the country, as a severe internet shutdown leaves the nation cut off from the world.
State Media Points to Foreign 'Terrorist Agents'
In a brief morning bulletin on state television, Iranian media issued its first official comment on the widespread unrest. The report claimed that 'terrorist agents' from the US and Israel were responsible for setting fires and sparking violence on the streets. It detailed incidents where private cars, motorcycles, metro stations, fire trucks, and buses were allegedly set ablaze, resulting in casualties.
The protests, which first erupted in Tehran in late December, were initially triggered by a catastrophic collapse in the value of the Iranian rial currency. According to Sky News' international correspondent John Sparks, the economic situation has been dire. At the time of the 2015 nuclear deal, one US dollar traded for 32,000 rials. By Tuesday 6 January 2026, that rate had plummeted to a staggering 1.46 million rials to the dollar.
Nationwide Blackout and Escalating Unrest
In response to the escalating demonstrations, the Iranian government initiated a nationwide internet blackout late on Thursday 8 January, which continued into Friday. The monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed the shutdown, which also applied to international phone calls. Analyst Holly Dagres of the Washington Institute suggested the move was intended 'to prevent the world from seeing the protests' and likely provided cover for security forces.
The protests have grown significantly in scale and geography. What began in the capital has now spread to all 31 of Iran's provinces, with reports of activity in over 280 locations. The Sky News Data and Forensics team has independently verified footage from protests in 19 provinces. Figures from the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency suggest at least 34 protesters and four security personnel have been killed, with around 2,200 arrests made.
Call from Exile and Economic Roots
A major wave of protests on Thursday night followed a call to action from Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah. In a statement, he urged the 'great nation of Iran' to take to the streets as a united front, warning the Islamic Republic that the world and former US President Donald Trump were watching. Following the demonstrations, Pahlavi stated that the regime had cut all communication lines, including the internet and landlines, in response to people demanding their freedom.
The underlying causes of the unrest are deeply economic. Iran's economy has been crippled by a combination of US sanctions, prolonged hyperinflation, and domestic mismanagement and corruption. Conditions are reported to have deteriorated further following the country's conflict with Israel last year, adding to the public's frustration and despair.
