January 9, 2026 — Tehran / Washington — Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has issued an urgent appeal to US President Donald Trump, urging immediate intervention as nationwide protests against the Islamic Republic’s leadership enter their twelfth day and continue to turn deadly.
In a series of social media posts, Pahlavi described the situation in Iran as dire, citing both lethal repression by security forces and a government-imposed communications blackout that has cut off internet and landline services across the country. He asserted that “millions of brave Iranians” have taken to the streets to demand freedom and fundamental rights.
“Mr. President, this is an urgent and immediate call for your attention, support, and action,” Pahlavi wrote, emphasizing that the blackout has left protesters isolated and vulnerable to violent repression.
The unrest, initially sparked by deepening economic woes — including spiking inflation and a plunging currency — has transformed into a broader challenge to the clerical rule of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian authorities responded to Thursday night’s demonstrations by shutting down internet and phone access nationwide in an apparent effort to suppress coordination among protesters.
According to multiple reports, the death toll has risen sharply, with at least 60 people killed in clashes with security forces over the past 24 hours alone.
In his appeal, Pahlavi accused the regime of planning to use the communications blackout to conceal potential massacres and urged Trump to be prepared to support the Iranian people — though he did not specify what form that support should take.
The call comes as Trump has previously warned Tehran that the United States would take action if authorities use lethal force against peaceful demonstrators. The White House has not publicly detailed specific plans for intervention.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media and officials have sharply condemned foreign interference. In a televised address, Khamenei warned against external influence and lashed out at Trump, framing the unrest as a destabilization attempt by hostile powers.
The protests, the most sustained nationwide demonstrations in years, reflect deep frustration with economic hardship and political repression. With connectivity largely cut off and reports of casualties mounting daily, the crisis shows no immediate signs of abating as international attention focuses on Tehran’s response and the fate of its dissenting citizens.