Iran on boil: Hospitals on alert as anti-Khamenei protests intensify; 100 officers killed, says Tehran
PTC News Desk: Iranians returned to the streets on Friday in fresh demonstrations, intensifying the largest protest movement the country has seen in over three years. Authorities continued enforcing a nationwide internet blackout as part of a sweeping crackdown that has already resulted in dozens of deaths.
The biggest antigovernment demonstrations in years have been sparked by an economic crisis fuelled by crippling Western sanctions.
According to Reuters, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the U.S. and Israel of“sowing chaos and disorder” in Iran by ordering “riots”, and called upon Iranians to distance themselves from “rioters and terrorists'. He addressed economic plans and “people’s demands” in an interview on Sunday (January 11, 2026), as anger over the rising cost of living intensifies, state TV said. So far, Iran has made significant arrests of key figures as protest has swept the Islamic Republic, the national police chief said.
Iran’s supreme leader declared that the government would not yield to the rapidly expanding movement, indicating that the response could become even harsher. The unrest began after the country’s currency suddenly plunged in value, but soon evolved into broader demands for political reform and an end to the current leadership.
State media reported that several security personnel have been killed during the unrest linked to the economic crisis, while the parliament speaker warned the U.S. and Israel of possible retaliation if Washington targets Iran.
Human rights groups have called for restraint amid widespread reports of deaths and mass detentions. Norway-based Iran Human Rights said at least 51 protesters — including nine children — have been killed by security forces, with hundreds more wounded.
- With inputs from agencies
