Anti-government protests against Iran’s Islamic regime have intensified across Tehran and other parts of the country, with demonstrators chanting slogans against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei amid a deepening economic crisis and widespread restrictions imposed by authorities.

As night fell on Thursday, neighbourhoods across the Iranian capital echoed with chants after exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi called on people to protest at 8 pm local time. Witnesses said crowds gathered despite heavy security presence, with slogans including “Death to the dictator” and “Death to the Islamic Republic” heard in multiple areas.

Internet shutdown and warnings from authorities

Iranian authorities cut off internet access and international telephone calls as the demonstrations gained momentum. The judiciary and security forces warned of a harsh response, even as protesters continued chanting calls for freedom.

Pahlavi accused the government of attempting to silence dissent by shutting down communication networks. He said landlines, internet services and possibly satellite signals had been disrupted to prevent images and voices from reaching the outside world.

The exiled prince urged European leaders to join US President Donald Trump in holding the Iranian regime accountable and called for technical and diplomatic efforts to restore communication access for Iranians.

Support for monarchy slogans resurfaces

Some demonstrators were heard chanting slogans in praise of Iran’s former monarchy, including “This is the last battle, Pahlavi will return.” While such chants were once punishable by death, their re-emergence reflects growing anger over economic hardship and political repression.

It remains unclear whether the slogans indicate direct support for Reza Pahlavi or a broader rejection of the system established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Protests spread nationwide, casualties reported

Demonstrations have continued to spread to cities and rural towns across Iran, with markets and bazaars shutting down in solidarity. At least 42 people have been killed and more than 2,270 detained since the unrest began, according to human rights groups based outside Iran.

Reports have also emerged of security personnel being killed or injured during clashes. Iranian media have reported fatal attacks on police officers and security forces in multiple provinces, including Tehran’s outskirts, Kermanshah, and northeastern regions.

Economic crisis fuels unrest

The current wave of protests, the largest in three years, began in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar after shopkeepers protested the sharp fall of the national currency. Iran’s inflation rate stood at 52 per cent year-on-year in December, according to official data.

The rial has continued to weaken, with one US dollar now costing around 1.4 million rials. Protesters have blamed economic mismanagement, sanctions, and restrictions on social and political freedoms for their worsening living conditions.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has acknowledged the economic pain faced by citizens and described protesters’ demands as legitimate, though he admitted the government’s ability to reverse the currency collapse is limited.

Leaderless movement and uncertain outcome

Despite the scale of the unrest, the protests remain largely leaderless. Analysts note that the absence of a clear alternative leadership has weakened previous protest movements in Iran, with many potential leaders having been arrested, exiled or silenced over the years.

Authorities have yet to launch a full-scale crackdown, though past internet shutdowns have often preceded harsher measures.

Trump issues warning to Tehran

US President Donald Trump warned Iran last week against violently suppressing peaceful protesters, saying the country would “pay hell” if security forces killed demonstrators. He stopped short of confirming any direct engagement with Pahlavi, stating that it was too early to determine who might emerge as a leader of the movement.

As protests continue and communication restrictions remain in place, the situation inside Iran remains tense, with uncertainty over how the regime will respond in the coming days.

Washington says proceeds from crude sales will be held in US accounts as American firms are encouraged to rebuild Venezuela’s oil sector

The United States will take control of Venezuela’s oil exports indefinitely and market the crude on global markets, holding the proceeds in US Treasury accounts, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said, outlining Washington’s clearest strategy yet for managing the South American nation’s most valuable resource.

Speaking at a conference in Miami on Wednesday, Wright said the plan would begin with crude currently stored in Venezuela, which has been piling up due to US restrictions and risks forcing production shutdowns.

“We’re going to get that crude moving again and sell it,” Wright said, adding that the US would continue selling Venezuelan oil production going forward.

The move comes as the Trump administration pushes for American energy companies to help rebuild Venezuela’s decaying oil infrastructure and revive output that has suffered after years of underinvestment, corruption and sanctions.

President Donald Trump said earlier this week that Venezuela would relinquish as much as 50 million barrels of oil for the US to sell, worth around $2.8 billion at current prices. The White House confirmed that Washington has already begun marketing Venezuelan crude.

According to officials, revenue from the oil sales will be placed in US Treasury accounts, shielding the funds from Venezuela’s creditors. The money will be used for the benefit of both the American and Venezuelan people.

“We’re not stealing anyone’s oil,” Wright said in a separate interview, stressing that the funds would remain in Venezuela’s name and eventually be brought back for public benefit.

Sanctions eased, compensation put on hold

As part of the strategy, the US is selectively rolling back sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector. However, Wright said proceeds from early oil sales would not be used to compensate US companies such as Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips, whose assets were nationalised under former president Hugo Chávez. Compensation, he said, remains a long-term issue.

Venezuela’s state oil company confirmed it is negotiating with Washington over crude sales under a framework similar to its existing arrangement with Chevron, the only major US oil firm still operating in the country.

Meanwhile, US forces have seized two additional sanctioned oil tankers as the administration tightens control over Venezuelan crude exports. One vessel was intercepted in the Atlantic south of Iceland, while the other was seized in the Caribbean.

US firms urged to revive oil production

The Trump administration is urging companies including Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Exxon to help restore Venezuela’s oil infrastructure after the removal of former president Nicolás Maduro. Officials said discussions have already taken place, and Trump is expected to meet energy executives later this week. Secretary of State Marco Rubio may also attend.

Venezuela’s oil output has fallen to less than one million barrels per day. Wright estimated production could rise by several hundred thousand barrels per day in the short to medium term, though restoring the industry fully would require massive investment over many years.

Global oil prices slipped about 1.5 per cent on Wednesday, trading near $60 a barrel.

US President Donald Trump has backed a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow the United States to impose tariffs of up to 500 per cent on countries purchasing Russian oil or uranium, a move that may impact nations such as India, China and Brazil.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said Trump has “greenlit” the proposed legislation, which is aimed at increasing economic pressure on Moscow as the administration continues negotiations to end the Ukraine war.

What the Russia sanctions bill proposes

If passed, the Graham-Blumenthal sanctions bill would authorise the US President to impose steep tariffs and secondary sanctions on countries that knowingly buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. The bill argues that such trade helps finance Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military campaign in Ukraine.

The proposed sanctions are designed to significantly restrict Russia’s revenue streams at a time when the conflict is nearing its fourth year.

Trump’s support and Senate timeline

Graham said he met Trump at the White House on Wednesday, where the President expressed support for the bill that has been under preparation for several months.

“This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent,” Graham said in a statement.

The senator added that a Senate vote could take place as early as next week, although the timeline remains uncertain. The Senate is expected to focus first on a government funding package, followed by a recess linked to Martin Luther King Jr Day.

Wider political backing

The legislation has dozens of co-sponsors in the Senate and a companion bill in the House of Representatives. While the White House has previously sought revisions to retain flexibility for the President, it remains unclear whether changes have been incorporated.

The Trump administration is currently attempting to finalise a peace deal to end the Ukraine conflict, with special envoys leading negotiations on Washington’s behalf.