Iran protests get angrier: Government buildings set on fire as uprising enters 12th day — watch

The nationwide uprising against Iran’s religious dictatorship entered its 12th day on Thursday, with protesters escalating their actions by setting fire to government buildings.In response, the Iranian government cut off internet access and international phone services late Thursday night, as a nighttime demonstration called by the country’s exiled crown prince drew crowds to shout from windows and take to the streets.

Violence surrounding the protests has so far left at least 42 people dead, while more than 2,270 others have been detained, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

The internet outage, reported by Cloudflare and the advocacy group NetBlocks, was attributed to government interference. Calls from Dubai to landlines and mobile phones in Iran failed to connect, as reported by AP. Such disruptions have previously been followed by intensified government crackdowns. Iranian state television’s 24-hour news channel made no mention of the internet outage that left over 85 million people cut off from the outside world, instead highlighting food subsidies during its 7.00 am (local time) Friday broadcast.

Iran is facing a deepening economic crisis as the collapse of the rial (Iranian currency) drives up prices for meat, rice, and other staples amid an annual inflation rate of around 40 per cent. In December, the government raised prices on its nationally subsidized gasoline and plans to review prices every three months, while the recent end of a preferential dollar-rial exchange rate for most goods, except medicine and wheat, is expected to push food prices even higher.The protests, which began in late December with Tehran merchants, have grown from economic grievances to broader anti-government demonstrations. Public anger has been building for years, fueled in part by the 2022 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody, which sparked nationwide unrest. Decades ago, Iran was one of the United States’ closest allies in the Middle East under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who purchased American military equipment and allowed CIA technicians to operate secret listening posts monitoring the Soviet Union.

The CIA also played a role in the 1953 coup that solidified the Shah’s rule.In January 1979, the shah fled Iran amid mass demonstrations, paving the way for the Islamic Revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which established the country’s theocratic government.On Thursday and Friday, Pahlavi called for demonstrations at 8.00 pm (local time). When the hour arrived, neighborhoods across Tehran erupted in chants, witnesses said. Protesters shouted, “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to the Islamic Republic!” while others praised the shah, declaring: “This is the last battle! Pahlavi will return!” Thousands took to the streets before all communication to Iran was cut off.