Protests Rock Iran,Pahlavi Name Echoes Again

Unrest spreads nationwide as Reza Pahlavi’s name resurfaces amid calls for change

January 9, 2026: Iran is witnessing a fresh wave of unrest as protests erupt across several cities, fuelled by public anger over a worsening economy and growing dissatisfaction with clerical rule. The demonstrations began on December 28 with the shutdown of Tehran’s historic Grand Bazaar and have since expanded into a nationwide challenge to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s authority. On Thursday night, authorities cut internet services and international calls, a move often linked to impending crackdowns.

The protests gained further attention after exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi called for public demonstrations, raising questions about his influence inside Iran after decades in exile. While the movement remains largely leaderless, rights groups claim at least 42 people have been killed so far. Notably, some protesters have been heard chanting in support of Pahlavi’s father, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi — a striking shift in a country where praise for the former monarchy was once severely punished.

Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of Iran’s last shah, has lived mainly in the United States since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. A political science graduate and longtime critic of Iran’s theocratic system, he has repeatedly called for democratic change through free and fair elections. In recent international forums, Pahlavi has outlined a roadmap for Iran’s future that includes mobilising grassroots networks, uniting the diaspora and urging global powers to support the Iranian people.