Crown Prince RALLIES Iranians

Group of women in black attire marching with an Iranian flag

Iran’s brutal Islamist regime has slaughtered over 500 brave protesters demanding freedom from Khamenei’s iron-fisted theocracy, exposing the savage reality of radical oppression just as President Trump vows maximum pressure on terror sponsors.

Story Highlights

HRANA reports 544 killed, including 483 protesters, with 10,681 arrested across all 31 provinces in 186 cities by January 11, 2026.
Protests ignited by rial collapse from nuclear sanctions evolved into chants of “Death to Khamenei” and calls for regime change.
IRGC and Basij forces used live ammunition on unarmed crowds, raided hospitals, amid a 60+ hour internet blackout to hide atrocities.
Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi rallies protesters with pre-1979 symbols, signaling a potential return to sanity over Islamist tyranny.
Death toll discrepancies highlight regime lies: activists say 544 dead vs. state media’s 109 security personnel killed by “rioters.”

Protests Erupt Over Economic Collapse

Protests exploded nationwide on December 28, 2025, triggered by the Iranian rial’s freefall to 1.4 million per dollar, fueled by international sanctions over the regime’s nuclear ambitions. Demonstrations quickly spread to 186 cities in all 31 provinces. Economic despair from years of theocratic mismanagement under Khamenei turned frustration into outright rebellion. By late December, crowds chanted “Death to Khamenei” and waved lion-and-sun flags symbolizing the pre-1979 monarchy. This shift challenged the core of the Islamist regime’s legitimacy, much like past uprisings against repression.

Regime Unleashes Deadly Crackdown

Security forces, led by the IRGC and Basij militia, responded with live ammunition against unarmed protesters. By January 3, at least 28 deaths occurred in 13 cities across eight provinces, including children in Lorestan and Ilam. Khamenei vowed to “put rioters in their place” that day, ending any tolerance. IRGC raided an Ilam hospital on January 4, firing pellets and tear gas at injured demonstrators. Tehran hospitals documented 217 protester deaths from live rounds by January 9-10. Verified videos show forces firing from Basij bases into crowds.

Unprecedented Scale and Brutality

HRANA tallied 544 deaths by January 11, the 15th day, with 483 protesters and 47 security personnel killed across 585 protest sites. Over 10,681 arrests followed, as protests engulfed urban centers like Tehran and minority regions. A nationwide internet blackout exceeding 60 hours concealed the bloodshed, echoing 2019 fuel protests where 1,500 died. Airlines canceled flights into January 12, signaling chaos. Minorities in Kurdish and Luri areas suffered heaviest, with hospital raids beating medical staff and families.

Stakeholders Clash in Bloody Standoff

Ayatollah Khamenei frames protesters as foreign agents backed by the U.S. and Israel, threatening death penalties via prosecutors. IRGC commanders enforce his will, while state media claims 109 security deaths from armed “terrorists.” U.S.-based HRANA documents atrocities via insider networks. Exiled Reza Pahlavi urges continued defiance through the weekend, promoting shah-era symbols to reclaim public spaces. Human rights groups like Amnesty and HRW verify early killings and IRGC shootings, naming victims like Reza Azimzadeh.

Over 500 killed by Islamist regime in Iran amid anti-Khamenei protests: reporthttps://t.co/M2gGcnp4PW

— Human Events (@HumanEvents) January 12, 2026

Impacts and Path Forward

Short-term, crackdowns risk thousands more deaths, with flight disruptions and blackouts hiding the toll. Long-term, unified protests could destabilize the regime amid worsening sanctions. Young protesters bear the brunt, fostering fear through live fire and mass arrests. Reza Pahlavi’s resurgence challenges theocracy, boosted by diaspora activism. President Trump’s firm stance against Iranian terror sponsors offers hope that American strength will hasten this oppressive regime’s downfall, vindicating policies of maximum pressure over weak appeasement.