The next hours in Iran are critical, with silence not an option

Iran has now been under an almost complete internet blackout for more than two days, dramatically limiting Iranian citizens' ability to communicate with the outside world and leaving much of what is happening inside the country shrouded in uncertainty.

“Human beings are members of a whole, in creation of one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, other members uneasy will remain. If you have no sympathy for human pain, the name of human you cannot retain.” — Saadi Shirazi, 13th-century Persian poet

Since last night, only a limited number of images and videos have filtered through to global audiences. Yet those fragments suggest that, despite the shutdown, the determination of protesters remains. Even more so, observers say the blackout has intensified the sense of urgency, as well as heightened the risks on the ground.

In several videos that circulated before connectivity was cut, one slogan appeared again and again: “We are no longer afraid. We will fight".

Many Iranians stress that the sentiment to fight back did not emerge overnight, but instead is the product of 47 years of repression, humiliation, economic hardship and the silencing of dissent. Supporters of the protests argue that this is the voice of a generation that has long been silenced, which now demands to reclaim dignity and the right to a future, and that the world should listen.

Analysts note that moments like these, when communication is cut, have historically been among the most dangerous. When images, live testimonies and independent verification disappear, authorities face less public scrutiny.

Observers say the focus is not on predicting how events will end, but on recognising critical turning points. Past experiences in Iran suggest that periods of enforced silence have often gone hand in hand with sharp esclations in violence.

Regardless of the blackout, Iranians have used creative expression as a form of resistance against oppression and censorship.

One image, in particular, resonated deeply. From another camera angle, a crowd can be seen sitting behind him — and then, almost unbelievably, security officers sit down as well, lowering themselves to the same level.

The image may appear surreal, especially in light of an official statement released by the army reaffirming its military loyalty to the Supreme Leader. But so did many of the developments of recent days.

Not long ago, what is now unfolding would have sounded unimaginable. Yet it became reality.

A key question that remains is whether the ongoing protests could create divisions within the security forces, causing some soldiers to side with the public.

Comments made by US President Donald Trump praising protesters in cities such as Mashhad, the birthplace of Iran’s Supreme Leader, along with claims of security forces retreating, have fuelled speculation. Independent confirmation remains limited, but analysts note that economic hardship affects soldiers and their families as much as civilians.

At the same time, others warn against premature conclusions. Some believe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) may decide that only a full-scale intervention can restore control, even at the risk of deeper internal strain.

“There has been no clear sign yet of a decisive shift in the balance of power,” aregional analyst said. “The system may choose prolonged repression over collapse, even if that leads to long-term instability".

Adding to concerns, unverified reports revealed the involvement of Iran proxy forces, including members of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi), in efforts to suppress the protests.

While such claims are difficult to verify under blackout conditions, analysts note that the use of non-national forces has historical precedent. It is often used as a way to lessen hesitation when authorities are reluctant to order citizens to fire on their own people.

Another pivotal factor shaping Iran's currently reality is the unprecedented public response to a call issued by Reza Pahlavi, the Crown Prince and son of Iran’s last monarch.

In the wake of massive demonstrations, he has urged Iranians to remain in the streets, explicitly framing the goal as seizing and holding control of city centres.

At the same time, he called on Trump to be prepared to take action in support of the Iranian people. He has also appealed to key economic sectors, notably oil and energy, to participate in nationwide strikes, a move that echoes a strategy used during the final months of his father's rule in 1979.

For many Iranians, this strategy carries deep historical resonance. In 1978–79, strikes in strategic industries played a critical role in weakening the state. Whether a similar approach can succeed under today’s security conditions remains unclear, but analysts say the call itself signals a belief that the situation has reached a decisive phase.

In today's political culture, many activists argue that silence is not neutral. It is often interpreted as tacit acceptance of the status quo and, by extension, of repression.

For this reason, protesters insist the importance of international responses, and emphasise that these cannot be limited to statements of concern. Instead, they argue that visibility, pressure and concrete measures matter the most.

They warn that what unfoldsin Iran will not remain confined within its borders. It will influence regional stability, migration patterns, global energy markets and the credibility of the values many Western governments claim to uphold. As the poet Saadi wrote centuries ago, human suffering is indivisible.