{"id":2531507,"date":"2026-01-08T14:02:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iran-reportedly-cuts-internet-as-anti-government-protests-swell-what-to-know\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T14:09:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:09:17","slug":"iran-reportedly-cuts-internet-as-anti-government-protests-swell-what-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iran-reportedly-cuts-internet-as-anti-government-protests-swell-what-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran reportedly cuts internet as anti-government protests swell: What to know"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Firan-reportedly-cuts-internet-as-anti-government-protests-swell-what-to-know%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2531507&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Iran has reportedly cut internet access as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iranian-americans-demand-biden-admin-back-regime-change\/\" title=\"...ian Americans Demand Biden Admin Back Regime Change\">widespread anti-government protests<\/a>,begun in late December,have broadened across the country.<\/p>\n<p>Key points:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Root causes: severe economic distress (high inflation and a collapsing rial), harsh U.S. sanctions,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iranian-official-threatens-preemptive-strike-after-trump-threat\/\" title=\"...ian official threatens preemptive strike after ... threat\">recent military setbacks<\/a> and an attack on a nuclear facility have driven public anger.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Scale and tactics: demonstrations and strikes have appeared in at least 37 cities across 24 provinces; merchants and Tehran&#8217;s Grand bazaar staged notable actions.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Repression and casualties: rights monitors report roughly 2,000 arrests and about 38 deaths; authorities have used arrests, summonses and follow-up targeting.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Communications blackout: Iran already enforces heavy internet censorship; reported nationwide outages further limit outside monitoring and information flow. The government has not officially confirmed a full blackout.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Regime response: Supreme Leader Khamenei urged negotiating with &#8220;protesters&#8221; but punishing &#8220;rioters.&#8221; Police and judicial officials vowed identification, prosecution and little leniency for those deemed to aid enemies; the army warned foreign states against intervening.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; International reactions: President Trump and some U.S. politicians threatened strong responses if Tehran violently suppresses protesters; some demonstrators publicly expressed support for Trump.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Opposition coordination: exiled figure Reza Pahlavi warned of possible internet cuts and called for synchronized demonstrations (including chanting from homes) to show numbers.<\/p>\n<p>The reported internet restrictions and official clampdown complicate efforts by humanitarian groups and foreign governments to verify events and monitor the unrest.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Iran reportedly cuts internet as anti-government protests swell: What to know<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2467270\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Internet access in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\">Iran<\/a> is being cut as disgruntled citizens increasingly demand an end to the ruling Islamic regime.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/iran-cutting-internet-amid-deadly-protests\/\">Reports<\/a> of a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/iranwire.com\/en\/news\/147434-twelfth-day-of-protests-internet-disruptions-across-multiple-iranian-cities\/\">national blackout<\/a> began surfacing on Thursday, following almost two weeks of civilians&rsquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/editorials\/4407658\/trump-should-bolster-support-iranian-protesters\/\">mass mobilization<\/a> against the Islamic Republic and the collapsing economy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4410336\/saudi-allied-government-yemen-seizes-uae-backed-territory\/\">Saudi-allied government in Yemen seizes all UAE-backed territory in lightning offensive<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4411206\/russia-deems-foreign-troops-in-ukraine-legitimate-targets-in-stark-warning-to-west\/\">Russia deems foreign troops in Ukraine &#8216;legitimate targets&#8217; in stark warning to West<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4411085\/trump-pulls-us-from-un-climate-change-agreement-sweeping-order\/\">Trump pulls US from UN&#8217;s &#8216;premier&#8217; agreement on climate change in sweeping order<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4362775\/trump-first-year-report-card-promise-keeper-or-nightmare-failure\/\">TRUMP FIRST YEAR REPORT CARD: A- PROMISE KEEPER OR &lsquo;NIGHTMARE&rsquo; FAILURE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Officials have performed sweeping arrests of individuals involved in the unrest, but threats from foreign countries have forced the Iranian government to &mdash; at least rhetorically &mdash; acknowledge a difference between licit &ldquo;demonstrators&rdquo; and illegal &ldquo;rioters.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-did-the-protests-start\">Why did the protests start?<\/h2>\n<p>The current round of demonstrations began in late December, centralized in the capital city of Tehran.<\/p>\n<p>Spikes in inflation and the collapse in value of Iranian currency have created a desperate environment for average Iranians. Economic woes have been intensified by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">President Donald Trump&rsquo;s<\/a> harsh sanctions, their loss in last year&rsquo;s Twelve-Day War against Israel, and the U.S. bombing of one of their nuclear facilities.<\/p>\n<p>One U.S. dollar is now worth approximately 1.4 million Iranian rials.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;With the economy foundering, many Iranians are financially under strain and unhappy with the government&rsquo;s response, which has led to one of the largest protests movements that the country has seen in several years,&rdquo; according to the Council on Foreign Relations.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4409526\/kai-trump-wants-republicans-democrats-meet-in-middle\/\">KAI TRUMP WANTS DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO &lsquo;MEET IN THE MIDDLE&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Merchants in the country&rsquo;s bazaars have closed their shops, and the Grand Bazaar in Tehran was the site of a large sit-in this week, during with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >law enforcement deployed tear gas<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FILE &ndash; Protesters march on a bridge in Tehran, Iran, on Dec. 29, 2025. (Fars News Agency via AP, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Anti-government demonstrations are nothing new for Iran, with activity having risen and fallen routinely since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that transformed the nation into an autocratic theocracy.<\/p>\n<p>But the scope and sustained momentum of these latest protests have captured observers&rsquo; attention.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-widespread-are-they\">How widespread are they?<\/h2>\n<p>Since December, similar protests have emerged in the majority of the country&rsquo;s provinces and are gaining momentum.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;At least 37 cities witnessed protests in the form of street gatherings, protest actions, or labor strikes, spanning 24 provinces, a scale that underscores the sustained nationwide character of the unrest,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.en-hrana.org\/from-the-streets-to-universities-irans-protests-enter-their-eleventh-day\/\">according to<\/a> Human Rights Activists in Iran, a US-based monitoring group.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4409499\/venezuela-oil-tanker-seizures-us-strategy-trump\/\">HOW TRUMP&rsquo;S OIL TANKER SEIZURES FIT IN THE US-VENEZUELA STRATEGY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The organization estimates approximately 2,000 individuals were arrested by law enforcement, and approximately 38 died.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Reports indicate that some of these arrests were carried out not only at protest sites but also through summonses, on-the-ground identification, and follow-up actions, an approach aimed not merely at dispersing gatherings, but at exerting psychological pressure and long-term deterrence,&rdquo; according to Human Rights Activists in Iran.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DTNZQqtAQ8F\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DTNZQqtAQ8F\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"http:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Iran&rsquo;s internet is heavily censored even under normal circumstances, making information from within the country difficult to disseminate.<\/p>\n<p>The reported blackouts further confound outside authorities and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gaza-aid-access-becomes-lethal-risk-for-palestinians\/\" title=\"Gaza aid access becomes lethal risk for Palestinians\">humanitarian organizations&#038;rsquo<\/a>; efforts to understand the granular details of the protests as they unfold.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4410450\/four-takeaways-house-oversight-minnesota-fraud-hearing\/\">FOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM HOUSE OVERSIGHT&rsquo;S HEATED MINNESOTA FRAUD HEARING<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-iranian-leaders-distinguish-protesters-versus-rioters\">Iranian leaders distinguish &ldquo;protesters&rdquo; versus &ldquo;rioters&rdquo;<\/h2>\n<p>Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, drew a distinction over the weekend between &ldquo;protesters&rdquo; and &ldquo;rioters.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We talk to protesters, the officials must talk to them,&rdquo; Khamenei said. &ldquo;But there is no benefit to talking to rioters. Rioters must be put in their place.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah allegedly ordered at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that &ldquo;no security measures be taken against the demonstrators,&rdquo; according to Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah.<\/p>\n<p>Ghaempanah explained that &ldquo;those who carry firearms, knives, and machetes and who attack police stations and military sites are rioters, and we must distinguish protesters from rioters.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Gen. Ahmad Reza Radan, Iran&rsquo;s chief of police, promised in a statement earlier this week that rioters &ldquo;will be identified at any time and in any place, and will be prosecuted and punished until the last person is arrested.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3926044\/trump-warns-government-shutdown-obamacare\/\">TRUMP WARNS OF JANUARY GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN OVER OBAMACARE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Radan offered a glimmer of leniency for those who willfully turn themselves over to authorities.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There is still time for those who were deceived by enemy intelligence services or their leaders to turn themselves in and benefit from the Islamic Republic&rsquo;s Islamic mercy,&rdquo; he warned.<\/p>\n<p>General Amir Hatami, the commander-in-chief of the Iranian army, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4410841\/iranian-official-threatens-preemptive-strike-after-trump-vows-to-defend-protesters\/\">warned foreign nations<\/a> against intervention or support for the unrest &mdash; threatening to take preemptive actions.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this photograph released on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, by the official website of the Iranian Army, Iran&rsquo;s army chief Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami speaks to military academy students, in Tehran, Iran. (Masoud Nazari Mehrabi\/Iranian Army via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the escalation of hostile rhetoric against the Iranian nation a threat and will not tolerate its continuation without responding,&rdquo; Hatami said.<\/p>\n<p>Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the senior legal authority in the country, has been less generous in his rhetoric. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;From now on, there will be no leniency for whoever helps the enemy against the Islamic Republic and the calm of the people,&rdquo; he said on Wednesday. &ldquo;Following announcements by Israel and the US president, there is no excuse for those coming to the streets for riots and unrest.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3895131\/democrats-should-temper-expectations-2026-blue-wave\/\">DEMOCRATS NEED TO TEMPER THEIR EXPECTATIONS OF A 2026 BLUE WAVE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-trump-issues-warning-to-khamenei-over-protesters\">Trump issues warning to Khamenei over protesters<\/h2>\n<p>President Donald Trump, smelling blood in the water for the Khamenei regime, has made bombastic threats to support demonstrators if the government takes violent action.<\/p>\n<p>The president warned that if the Iranian regime &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-warns-iran-that-us-is-locked-and-loaded-to-rescue-any-peaceful-protesters-harmed\/\" title=\"... warns ... that US is \u2018locked and loaded\u2019 to \u2018rescue\u2019 any \u2018peaceful ...\u2019 harmed\">violently kills peaceful protesters<\/a>, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He later sharpened the point when he told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday that &ldquo;if they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they&rsquo;re going to get hit very hard by the United States.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Holly Dagres, a senior fellow in the Washington Institute&rsquo;s Viterbi Program on Iran and U.S. Policy, posted a video to social media of a protester putting up a symbolic street sign renaming a boulevard in Tehran after Trump.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Since Trump&#8217;s comments about the Iran protests, I&#8217;ve seen numerous videos of Iranian protesters either thanking him or, in this case, renaming streets after the US president. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/aWsQV5N8fQ\">pic.twitter.com\/aWsQV5N8fQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Holly Dagres (@hdagres) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hdagres\/status\/2008875263065575571?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;Since Trump&rsquo;s comments about the Iran protests, I&rsquo;ve seen numerous videos of Iranian protesters either thanking him or, in this case, renaming streets after the US president,&rdquo; she said of the footage.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Lindsey Graham, speaking with Fox News on Tuesday, called the ayatollah a &ldquo;religious Nazi&rdquo; and told the people of Iran that the U.S. stands with them in their protest. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;To the Ayatollah &mdash; you need to understand, if you keep killing your people who are demanding a better life, Donald J. Trump is gonna kill you,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3837322\/trump-advises-that-anyone-burning-american-flag-will-be-imprisoned-for-a-year\/\">TRUMP ADVISES THAT ANYONE BURNING AMERICAN FLAG WILL BE IMPRISONED FOR A YEAR<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Iranian government has not acknowledged the reports of a nationwide blackout, but such measures have been taken during previous bouts of civil unrest.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/3445873\/who-is-reza-pahlavi-iran-exiled-crown-prince\/\">Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi<\/a>, the son of Iran&rsquo;s deposed Shah and a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3441243\/reza-pahlavi-urges-resistance-iran-islamic-regime\/\">leading figure in anti-regime coordination<\/a>, warned earlier on Thursday that demonstrators&rsquo; internet access could be cut.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/beltway-confidential\/4407838\/us-israel-response-iran-protests\/\">WHAT WILL THE US AND ISRAEL DO ABOUT THE IRAN PROTESTS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>He encouraged his supporters to chant in unison at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday &mdash; &ldquo;whether in the streets or even from your own homes&rdquo; &mdash; in order to demonstrate their numbers and level of coordination.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Based on your response, I will announce the next calls to action,&rdquo; the crown prince said in a video statement on Wednesday. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iran cuts internet during nationwide protests<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2531508,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26004221769471.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[6371,36930,70409,3823,3970],"class_list":["post-2531507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-censorship","tag-human-rights","tag-internet-shutdown","tag-iran","tag-protests"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26004221769471.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2531507"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531507\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2531511,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531507\/revisions\/2531511"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2531508"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2531507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2531507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2531507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}