Iran's streets have become battlegrounds for a burgeoning revolution as protests containing up to millions of people amid a government blackout this week entered their third day.
Demonstrators on Iran's streets are demanding the return of the Pahlavi monarchy and the ouster of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Eyewitness accounts describe millions of coordinated protesters chanting "Pahlavi will return," "Long live the Shah," and "Death to Khamenei," signaling a unified push against the Islamic Republic's 47-year rule.
A firsthand report from an Iranian activist, shared via Starlink amid a nationwide internet blackout, paints a vivid picture of the chaos and hope on the ground.
"Here, it's truly hell. For us, it smells of victory, and for them, it reeks of the stench of overthrow," reads the post. "The crowd is in the millions and astonishingly coordinated ... Everyone knows it's over. They're fighting with all their might just to make it happen sooner."
A photo of an Iranian girl burning a picture of Ayatollah Khamenei as she lit her cigarette went viral this week, promoting a new trend among Iranian women leading the revolution.
A young woman lights her cigarette on a photo of Ayatollah Khomenei, Iran's leader, in a photo that went viral this week (Source: X / Daily Goat)
Locals say slogans exclusively focus on restoring the Shah, dismissing any alternative leadership, and highlight the role of diaspora Iranians.
Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, son of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, has emerged as a rallying figure. In a public statement made on X, he urged compatriots to maintain their presence in the streets, warning against isolated movements that could endanger lives.
"By your widespread and courageous presence ... you have severely weakened Khamenei’s repressive apparatus," Pahlavi said in a statement. He cited reports of a "severe shortage of mercenaries" within the regime, with many security forces defecting or disobeying orders.
Pahlavi also acknowledged international support, particularly from U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he described as "the leader of the free world" ready to assist. "Do not abandon the streets. My heart is with you. I know that I will soon be by your side," he added.
A lot hangs in the balance for regional peace of potential regime change in Iran. Pahlavi has openly said that under his control, Iran would be a far less radical and more European style of government, while he would also seek to make the country allies with Israel, the first time in nearly half a century this is the case.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nethanyahu said: "We all hope the Persian nation will soon be freed from the yoke of tyranny, and when that day comes, Israel will once again be faithful partners in building a future of prosperity and peace for both peoples."
The massive demonstrations on the streets of cities across Iran, many lit up with the lights of protestors cell phones amid the blackout, indicate that this is the vision the people there want for the country now.
The regime's response has been brutal. In Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, security forces were captured on video opening fire on protesters. A demonstrator, filming the assault, screamed in English: "Look, they’re shooting at us. They’re shooting us."
Reports from Tehran indicate even graver tactics: security forces have seized control of all hospitals, abducting wounded individuals with fresh gunshot wounds before they can receive treatment.
"When someone with fresh gunshot wounds arrives, they are immediately abducted, without any opportunity to receive medical treatment," an activist warned, labeling it a violation of human rights amid a digital black out.
Internationally, tensions are mounting. Iran's parliament speaker issued a stark warning that any U.S. military intervention would make American bases and Israel "legitimate targets" for retaliation. This comes as protesters and opposition figures appeal for global aid, with Pahlavi's message amplifying calls for humanitarian intervention. President Trump has warned Iran’s government that any violent action against protestors would be met with US force.
Solidarity actions have spilled beyond Iran's borders. In London, a protester scaled the Iranian Embassy, tearing down the regime's flag and hoisting the pre-1979 Lion and Sun emblem—a symbol of Iran's monarchy era. The act, captured on video, has gone viral, embodying the diaspora's defiance and hope for a "free Iran."
As the revolution gains momentum, the world watches closely. Protesters report an unprecedented energy since Pahlavi signaled his readiness to return, transforming whispers of change into a roar for restoration. With the regime isolated and defections rising, the coming days could determine whether Iran reclaims its pre-revolutionary identity or descends further into violence.