Iran: Exiled crown prince calls for protests to continue

As protests against the Iranian government near their second week, Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Saturday warned that defending the Islamic regime is a "red line."

Iranian authorities have imposed a communications blackout since Thursday to curb the protests, raising fears of a tough crackdown.

The intelligence branch of the security force, which is entrusted with preserving the Islamic Republic, said in a statement that the "continuation of this situation is unacceptable" and protecting the revolution was its "red line."

The military, meanwhile, vowed to protect public property as Iran's clerical leadership stepped up efforts to quell the protests.

Mass protests erupted across Iran, from Tehran to Tabriz, demanding an end to the Islamic Republic.

Demonstrators defied security forces, chanting "death to the dictator" and reviving pre-revolution symbols.

Exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi urged unity. Supreme Leader Khamenei condemned protesters as foreign-backed "troublemakers."

Reports cite escalating violence and chemical agents as Iran cuts the internet, leaving the country in isolation.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reiterated Washington's support for Iranian demonstrators amid protests and an internet blackout.

"The ​United ​States supports the brave people of Iran," Rubio posted on X on Saturday morning.

The comment from Rubio comes after President Donald Trump issued a new warning to Iran's leaders on Friday.

"You better not ⁠start ​shooting because we'll start ‌shooting ‌too," Trump said.

The US president has issued repeated warnings that he could order military strikes should protesters get killed by security forces.

Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last shah of Iran who has been calling Iranians to take to the streets en masse this week, has hailed the protesters who turned out in force on Friday night.

In a post on X, Pahlavi, who lives in exile in the United States, said, "I am certain that by making our street presence more targeted, and at the same time, by cutting off the financial lifelines, we will completely bring the Islamic Republic and its worn-out and fragile repression apparatus to its knees."

Pahlavi urged workers from Iran's key economic sectors, particularly transportation, oil, gas and energy, to go on a nationwide strike to ramp up the pressure on Iran's ruling clerics.

He called for more protests on Saturday and Sunday evenings, urging Iranians to "claim public spaces as your own.

"Our goal is no longer merely to come to the streets; the goal is to prepare for seizing the centers of cities and holding them," Pahlavi said, urging people to "gather the necessary supplies."

He concluded his latest message by saying he was preparing to return to the country from exile, "so that at the time of our national revolution's victory, I can be beside you, the great nation of Iran. I believe that day is very near."

It's been nearly two weeks since protests erupted in Iran over the dire economic conditions in the Islamic Republic.

Iran's crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, currently living in exile in the United States, has made a fresh call for more mass action this weekend.

The demonstrations began with a merchants' strike in Tehran but have grown into calls for regime change and for the clerical regime led by Ayatollah Khamenei to be overthrown.

Khamenei is not backing down and has vowed to clamp down on the protesters, despite warnings from Donald Trump that the US will hit Iran "very hard" if demonstrators are killed.

Rights groups say dozens have been killed and well over 2,000 have been detained.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest news and analysis from Iran.